National Medical Commission: A shot in the arm for medical education

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has come into force from September 25, 2020, thereby repealing the nearly 64-year-old Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. All its bodies such as the Medical Council of India and Board of Governors, which superseded the MCI on September 26, 2018, have also been dissolved.

As a result, the much-awaited NMC will start to function effectively soon to bring reforms in the medical education sector. Last year, the National Medical Commission Act 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament.

A gazette notification by the health ministry read: “The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) is hereby repealed with effect from September 25. The BoG appointed under Section 3A of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) in supersession of the MCI constituted under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the said Act shall stand dissolved.”

Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, former Head of Department, ENT, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, has been appointed the chairman of NMC for three years, while Dr Rakesh Kumar Vats, ex-Secretary General, Board of Governors, MCI, has been appointed Secretary of NMC for three years. Apart from the Chairman, the NMC will consist of 10 ex-officio members and 22 part-time members appointed by the government.

To ensure transparency, the members will have to declare their assets at the time of joining and demitting office, along with declaring their professional and commercial engagement or involvement. Further, the chairperson/member on ceasing to hold office will not accept any employment for two years in a private medical institution whose matter has been dealt with him either directly or indirectly.

The purpose of the NMC Act, 2019, is 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; promotes equitable and universal healthcare that encourages community health perspective and makes the services of medical professionals accessible to all citizens. Further, it promotes national health goals; encourages medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research; has an objective, periodic and transparent assessment of medical institutions and facilitates maintenance of a medical register for India. It also enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services; is flexible to adapt to changing needs and has an effective grievance redressal mechanism.