Unfazed by medical fraternity's flak, Centre likely to push NMC Bill in Parliament

Hyderabad: Amid resistance from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other sections, the Central government is likely to push the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill in the coming session of the Parliament.

According to the medical' fraternity, there were hints from the Health Ministry sources that the bill would be tabled in Parliament once again.

It may be mentioned here that the Lok Sabha, on December 31, 2018, passed the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that aims to replace the scam-tainted Medical Council of India with National Medical Council (NMC) that will have eminent professionals on board.

However, the bill was not tabled later in Rajya Sabha as the BJP did not have the majority in the Upper House and several parties like Trinamool Congress, AIADMK, TRS, SP, BSP etc. were opposing the contents of the bill.

Now that six months have elapsed since the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, NDA government had to start the process afresh and, IMA sources stated, that it was likely to be tabled in the coming Parliament session set to be held from June 17 till July 26.

IMA Telangana unit Secretary Dr Sanjeev Singh Yadav stated that the national unit was already in touch with new Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan expressing their concerns and the need to make few changes to the bill.

He said the newly proposed NMC was anti-poor, anti-people, anti -doctors, anti-federal and undemocratic. Abolishing a democratic institution (MCI) and replacing it with a body in which majority members would be nominated by the government was not proper, he stressed.

" By virtue of the majority in Lok Sabha, it may get the bill passed in the Lower House. However, many regional parties have agreed to rally behind the IMA and voice the doctors' fraternity concerns in Rajya Sabha and it was not easy for the NDA government to get it passed in the Upper House," Dr S S Yadav said.

He further stated that the fine for medical negligence under the Consumer Protection Act was likely to be increased steeply and doctors are very worried.

" Centre is mulling to hike fines for medical negligence cases. If proved in district consumer courts, the fine would be up to Rs 50 lakh, at the State level the fine would be up to Rs 1 crore and at Central level fine for medical negligence would be almost 1.5 crore. This new tariff would spell doom for the medical fraternity," he said.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) has been strongly opposing the NMC bill stating that it would cripple the functioning of medical professionals by making them answerable and be at the mercy of the bureaucracy and non-medical administrators.