Healthcare services in the national Capital were hit badly on Thursday as resident doctors at several Government hospitals went on strike and withdrew all services, including that at the emergency department, to protest against National Medical Commission Bill that aims to regulate the medical education sector.
The fraternity is opposing NMC’s provisions such as providing licence to practice modern medicine as community health providers for persons other than those possessing MBBS degrees. The other contentious issues are introduction of National Exit Test (NEXT) and scrapping of the NEET-PG.
They are also opposing decreasing the percentage of seats under controlled fees structure in private medical colleges and deemed universities from 85 to 50 per cent, reducing the representation of elected members from 75 per cent in MCI to 20 per cent in National Medical Commission and autonomous boards constituted there-under.
They are also objecting to section 45 of the Bill, which, they claim, empowers the Union Government to override any suggestion of the NMC.
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2019 to replace the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. The Government termed the creation of the new body as one of the biggest reforms for medical education in the country.
The Upper House passed the Bill with voice vote with the AIADMK staging a walk out. The Bill will be back in Lok Sabha to approve two amendments suggested during the debate in Rajya Sabha.
The Lower House had passed the Bill early this week. It was passed on a day when doctors are on a countrywide strike against the proposed legislation.
Doctors are demanding certain amendments in the Bill. According to them, if not amended, the Bill will lead to deterioration of medical education and degradation of healthcare services.
