Centre, doctors heading for showdown over NMC bill

Hyderabad: The NDA government and the doctors' fraternity from all States are bracing for a major showdown over the issue of National Medical Commission (NMC) bill that was tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.

Junior doctors and medical students already swung into action with protests held in all teaching hospitals as well as NIMS in Panjagutta.

Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA), the major national body representing doctors in all States, had given a call for week-long protests to exert pressure on Centre as it takes steps to get the bill passed in both houses of Parliament.

The doctors are furious that Health Ministry did not bother to include various key recommendations and suggestions made by the Parliament Standing Committee but brought in many clauses that are detrimental to the doctors' fraternity, mainly young doctors and medical students and even to those pursuing medical education dream.

Some of the clauses in the bill that are being strongly objected to are: Commission has 80 per cent appointed members with no space for democracy, crucial Secretary of the commission is a bureaucrat meaning a person not from medical profession background, fee capping for only 50 per cent seats in Private medical colleges thus giving scope for tuition fees to touch the sky thus affecting the poor meritorious students dream of medicine studies, no proper clarification on NEXT exam for final MBBS students, unscientific bridge course, likely temporary registration for foreign nationals etc.

IMA Telangana President Dr B Pratap Reddy and State Secretary Dr Sanjeev Singh Yadav stated that NMC bill would severely affect the interests of medical students in the country and it is understandable that junior doctors across the country are on the protest path opposing this bill.

HRDA (Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association) president Dr K Mahesh Kumar was disappointed that suggestions of Parliamentary panel were also ignored.

Whether amendments that would be proposed by opposition parties during discussion would be accepted or not has to be watched as future of doctors is at stake, he said.

NIMS resident doctors' association president Dr G Srinivas said they have decided to hold daily protests, during lunchtime, in the hospital premises. A protest was held on Tuesday afternoon, wherein resident doctors from different departments staged a protest and raised slogans against the bill.

Junior doctors from Osmania and Gandhi hospitals have also decided to let their voice heard in the form of protests over the next week.