Private doctors oppose IMC Bill

Rajamahendravaram: Indian Medical Association (IMA) Rajamahendravaram chapter organised a protest rally and staged dharna at Sub-Collector's office here on Tuesday, against the proposed National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, which will be tabled in the Parliament. All the private hospitals were closed on the call given by IMA national body.

Addressing the gathering, IMA Rajamahendravaram chapter secretary, Dr I Guru Prasad said that the entire doctor fraternity across the country was condemning the bill. The Union government was trying to introduce a new system in the name of IMC, replacing the existing Medical Council of India (MCI) established in the year 1953 through an act.

As per the bill, the government appoints as many as 25 members in which only five are doctors. The IMC consists of bureaucrats, political leaders, social workers, none of whom are concerned with medical fraternity. Moreover, IMC empowered to sanction private medical colleges with a condition that 40 percent seats are given to government.

Additionally, the candidates with degrees in Homeopathy and Ayurveda will be treated as MBBS doctors right after the completion of a six month training period, which is against the rules.

“Moreover, the dignity of MBBS course is drastically reduced and there is a scope for more corruption and unscientific mixing of systems and empowering of other doctors through bridge course, gives scope for substandard doctors and medical practice,” he said.

“The new system shows its impact on doctor and patient relations,” he added. Dr Guru Prasad warned that the IMA would continue the agitation until the government’s rollback of its decision on the bill and the IMA members are ready to shutdown hospitals continuously if necessary. The agitators submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Collector, following which hundreds of IMA members took part in the protest.