Indian Medical Association questions NMC Bill: Dr SS Agrawal

T he Union cabinet last week approved half a dozen out of several changes to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill as per the suggestions by Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and provide for a medical education system which ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals, adoption of the latest medical research, periodic assessment of medical institutions and an effective grievance redressal mechanism. Despite these changes, doctors still have objections and they are not ready to accept the Bill in its present form. Indian Medical Association (IMA) has already staged series of protests and now residents across the country also have come up in the support of IMA.

Amit Bhatt caught up with Dr SS Agrawal, State patron of Rajasthan unit of IMA and former National President of IMA to know about the main objections and expressing worries the bill entails.

Q. Why IMA is opposing the NMC bill?

A. IMA is of the view that the bill is pro-corporate and anti-poor in nature which gives powers to private college management to levy fee arbitrary. It also lacks the representation of states in the council which is not in the favour of students and public as well.

Q. What should be the criteria for fee determination?

A. Currently, the state governments decide the fee of around 85 per cent of the medical seats in private medical colleges and fee of remaining 15 per cent seats is fixed by the college management. The NMC will increase the quota of the private colleges from 15 percent to 50 percent, leaving only half the seats under fee regulation. IMA demands that fee determination by the government and college should remain at the present ratio of 85:15.

Q. Cabinet has increased the state representation in the NMC, is it not acceptable to IMA?

A.  Cabinet has approved the draft of bill, though, has marginally increased the state representation but it is not enough. Our demand is that every state should get representation in NMC as health is the state subject.

Q. Now residents have also come along with IMA, what will be your next strategy?

A. We are regular in dialogue with the union government and it has shown sensitivity over issues raised by IMA. Now we will prepare our next move as per the government’s approach, which appears to be positive so far. We are hopeful that the bill will finally be shaped as pro-doctors, pro-public and pro-students.