Hey Sahith,

The bill is aimed to bring the biggest reforms in medical education in India. It proposes to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI), the overarching central authority regulating medical education, with a National Medical Commission (NMC). The MCI was dissolved in 2010 following corruption charges against its president Ketan Desai by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The amendments also stated that the final MBBS examination would be held as a common exam across the country and would serve as an exit test called the National Exit Test (NEXT). Thus, the students would not have to appear in a separate exam after MBBS to get the license to practice. The latest update is that the bill passed in Rajya Sabha.

Dear Sahith, The NMC Bill proposes to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and replace the Medical Council of India (MCI), which was dissolved in 2010 following corruption charges against its president Ketan Desai by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). As per the Bill, a national medical commission will be set up in place of MCI that will have responsibilities such as approving and assessing medical colleges, conducting common MBBS entrance and exit examinations and regulating medical course fees. The Bill aims to provide for a medical education system that improves access to quality and affordable medical education, ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals in all parts of the country.

The Bill proposes a common final-year MBBS examination, National Exit Test (NEXT), for admission to post-graduate medical courses and for obtaining a licence to practise medicine. It would also act as a screening test for foreign medical graduates.

Merits-

• As the Allopathic, Ayurveda and Homoeopathic doctors together will be prescribing allopathy medicines, the revenues for these pharmaceuticals will apparently upsurge.
• Indian rural society is deprived of MBBS trained doctors. The main motive of Bridge Course for Ayush doctors is to create an accessibility of trained doctors that will provide integrated treatment and element quackery in these areas. Thousands of Ayush practitioners will help in saving lives by dispensing basic medical service in remote regions and villages.
• Since the private Ayush medical colleges of India are a legalised short cut to practice allopathy, they will get more student admissions due to the NMC Bill Bridge Course. Moreover, several Homeopathy colleges are equipped with ‘allopathy’ facilities.
• The Ayush doctors will gain additional knowledge as compared to the Allopathy doctors. Moreover, their reputation will enhance in the society.

Demerits-

• The Bridge Course promotes a cross-learning pathway. It is believed that it will undermine the alternative medical streams. It is a denigration of professional and trained allopathic doctors.
• It will lead to the degradation of homoeopathic system of medicine. Moreover, the patients will receive substandard medical services.
• The medical profession of homeopathy is likely to lose its charm, if it will integrate the allopathic medicines as well. Moreover, studying one system and practicing other is unethical.
• The Bridge Course for Ayush doctors will have a tremendous negative impact on medical profession and will give rise to corruption in the medical field.

All the best

Hope this helps