Lok Sabha Passes Bill on Homoeopathy Council Revamp

• 31 Jul 2018

Lok Sabha has passed “The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment), 2018”, which seeks amend the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and replace the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) with a board of governors.

• The Bill replaces an Ordinance promulgated by the President in May 2018.
• The Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 sets up the Central Council of Homoeopathy which regulates homoeopathic education and practice.
• The amendment in the bill is aimed at bringing accountability and quality in the homoeopathy colleges and education in the country. In 2016, the chief of CCH was arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting bribe worth Rs 20 lakhs as part payment for granting approval to a homoeopathy college.

Key Highlights

• The Central Council will be reconstituted within one year from the date of its supersession and the Central government will, in the interim period, constitute a Board of Governors, which will exercise powers of the Central Council.
• The Board of Governors would consist of up to seven members including persons of eminence in the field of homoeopathy education, and eminent administrators appointed by central government.
• The central government will select one of these members as the Chairperson of the Board. With regard to policy decisions, the directions of the central government will be final.
• The statement of objects and reasons of the bill states that there have been instances of serious malpractices in the Council due to which there has been compromised in the quality of medical education.
• The law aims to abolish the CCH, as the body does not have the powers to deal with its corrupt chief and other members who have been faced with grave charges of corruption.
• The Bill states that: (i) if any person has established a homoeopathy medical college, or (ii) if an established homoeopathy medical college has opened new courses or increased its admission capacity before the passage of the Bill, it will have to seek permission from the central government within one year.
• If the person or homoeopathy medical college fails to seek permission, then any medical qualification granted to a student from such medical college will not be recognised under the Act.