NEET has ensured merit: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda talks to DNA about implementing the Mental Health Bill, a delay in more AIIMS-like institutions being built and allegations of corruption in the Dental Health Council of India, among other issues. Excerpts:

How do you plan to curb the back-door entry of students in private medical colleges? Some such incidents have come to light even after the introduction of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

NEET has ensured that only the most meritorious students vie for the seats available. To further curb the back-door entry of students in private colleges, NEET regulations were recently amended, making common counselling mandatory for all seats. All state governments are now required to designate a common counselling authority for this purpose. This step will go a long way towards eliminating any possibility of back-door entry.

How do you plan to implement the Mental Health Bill? Especially, as there is a lack of proper infrastructure and shortage of doctors, while the number of patients is quite high.

We are focused on increasing the number of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and psychiatric social workers in the country. All mental health hospitals, government hospitals, and government medical colleges are being provided with funds to develop centres of excellence for mental health. In fact, the Ministry of Health has provided funds to the tune of Rs 33 crore per centre. In addition, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also supporting 39 departments in government medical colleges for creation of post-graduate seats, upgrade of 88 psychiatric wings in medical colleges, general hospitals, and 29 state mental hospitals.

Why is there a delay in completion of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences-(AIIMS) like institutions across India, when this was one of most touted plans of the government?

It is taking us time to choose the right faculty, who will turn the completed building into AIIMS. Since we are all about governance and following the right hiring process, it’s taking time. But as you know, Rome was not built in a day.

What is the status of National Health Assurance Mission and Clinical Establishment Bill?

The National Council for Clinical Establishments has approved minimum standards for different levels of hospitals. These standards include that the hospitals should have adequate and good quality drugs, medical devices, and consumables commensurate with the scope of services and number of beds. The Act has, however, not been adopted by all states. Health is a state subject. The Central government has been making efforts to persuade all states to adopt and implement the Act to that the Indian population benefits from the law.

The Dental Council of India (DCI) seems to be going the Medical Council of India (MCI) way, as far as corruption is concerned. In fact, dentists had recently taken to the streets to protest against the same. What is the Union Health Ministry doing in this regard?

We have drafted a Bill called the National Medical Commission (NMC), and discussion on it is on. Very soon, we will bring it to the Cabinet and the Parliament. At this point in time, these are all autonomous bodies and we work accordingly. But changes are afoot.

There has been an increase in the number of strikes by doctors, who have been victims of violence by patients’ attendants. How do you plan to tackle this problem?

This is a very serious issue. I have written to the chief ministers and health ministers in states to ensure that a safe working environment is provided to doctors and other medical staffers.