Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill

• 05 Jul 2019

Parliament has passed the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill replaces the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 which was promulgated on 21^st February, 2019.

• The Bill seeks to reduce the time period for supersession of theMedical Council of India (MCI) from three years to two years, with effect from 26^th September, 2018, during which the government-constituted Board of Governors will exercise the powers and functions of MCI as assigned under the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956.
  
  • The 1956 Act provides for supersession of the MCI and its reconstitution within a period of three years from the date of its supersession. In the interim period, the Act requires the central government to constitute a Board of Governors, to exercise the powers of the MCI.
• The Bill also increases the strength of the Board appointed by the central government, from seven members to 12 members.
• The government will soon come up with the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill that seeks to replace MCI with a National Medical Commission and overhaul the medical education system in India.

Background

• The Medical Council of India (MCI) was set up under the Medical Council Act 1956, for setting standards for medical professionals, new medical colleges and revision of curriculum, among others.
• Amid allegations of corruption against MCI office bearers and probe into opaque accreditation to medical colleges, the Supreme Court in May 2016 directed the government to set up an oversight committee with the authority to oversee all statutory functions of MCI until the new legislation comes in.
• In 2017, after the expiry of the one year term of the first committee, another oversight panel was set up with the approval of the apex court. However, the committee resigned in July 2018 citing non-compliance of their instructions by MCI.
• In view of these developments and to put an alternative mechanism in place of MCI so as to bring transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country, it was decided to supersede the MCI through the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, promulgated on 26^th September,2018 and entrust its affairs to a Board of Governors consisting of eminent doctors.
  
  • Till now, the Board of Governors has granted accreditation to more number of medical colleges, increased number of seats and reduced procedural hurdles.