National Medical Council Bill : Secrets No One Tells You is not a blog post.It’s an awareness campaign.It is our request to the Honourable higher officials to take note.
It is also something my friends who also read my blog need to know.India is a Republic.It has a beautiful Federal structure.It has one of the most iconic constitutions in the world .Dr.B.R Ambedkar was a man much before his times.When people could hardly think beyond their daily bread, he thought of a Republic.
A country where the minority have an equal say.While many of the provisions were meant for religious minority what needs to be remembered that thought and professional minorities too, are promised protection under our powerful constitution.
But guess what?
You are still afraid of asking about the Emperors New Clothes.I am a simple woman in India brought up in a middle-class family, who had dreamt of becoming a doctor and helping people.But with the current scare over the National Medical Council Bill, I am afraid the beloved citizens of our country will suffer most.While this bill is not as much fun discussing as Padmavat is, its importance exceeds imagination.
The bill will affect healthcare.
It will affect Medical education.
Those you now know as quacks will be trained under it for crash courses in Modern medicine.How many of you would be comfortable visiting the ER and being treated by one such?Unfortunately, you will have no choice.Also, you may never know.
How many of the powerful men who govern us will be visiting such bridge course doctors, now known as quacks?
You know the answer.I do.
Everyone knows.
But …
The main reason I started writing was, I felt I may be able to help many more (even remotely)through my words.
Whether I am able to or not, time will tell.But today on the eve of our Republic Day, its time I shared the parts of the Bill which are making us worried.While regulation is important, whats more important is the regulation needs to be thought out in more details.
The IMA is seeking a personal hearing by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare.But till that happens this is what you should know
The proposed National Medical Council Bill is self-defeating in nature and counterproductive in character.
It hurts the State, harms the profession and makes the regulatory body subservient to Central Government reducing it to a puppetry. The damaging provisions in the Bills are as follows:-
1) Introduction of licentiate examination which as an additional filter will reduce down the number of professionals available to the healthcare to its minimum. It is not conducive in the fair and legitimate interests of those who belong to backward communities.
2) Provision for bridge course would result in backdoor entry to non-medical professionals and would damage the system of Ayurveda/ Homeopathy respectively. This will also be discriminatory in character and will make people with compromised competency to play havoc with the population at large.
3) Marginalization of State representation and infringing the federalism. The Bill has taken away representation of the each State to its minimum and also put it in the form of Ex-officio representative of the State through either the Vice-Chancellor of the Health Science Universities or through Vice-Chancellors of traditional Universities with maximum medical colleges affiliated to it.
4) Infringement on the democratic representative character and national character. The composition of National Medical Commission, National Medical Advisory Council and the four autonomous Board are totally nominated/appointed in character and the elected members to bare minimum of five in the name of Zonal representation. The State representatives are only for a term of two years and the same would be unavailable for a period for 10 years meaning the State would not be represented in the National Medical Commission for a period of 10 years.
5) Marginalization of State Medical Council: The State Medical Council would be losing its autonomy and totality as the National Medical Commission, Medical Advisory Council , Autonomous Board and Central Government are entitled to give direction and it shall be binding for them, hence they will be reduced to subsidiary systems
6) Discretionary powers: Discretionary powers vested with the National Medical Commission, autonomous Boards including the Central government are such that the fixation of fees for various private colleges are left with the discretion of the Central Government upto 40% of total seats. MER Board is entitled to relax the norms and requirements of starting medical colleges.
7) Discretion with regards of imposing a penalty: The discretionary powers of the Central Government to permit even those who have failed in the Licentiate Examination to practice medicine.
8) Discretion of the Central government to do away with the conflict of interest: A classic example of doing away with the autonomy of the regulatory authority. The usage of all these discretionary power would be breeding corruption in a brazen manner. The proposed system is devoid of checks and balances.
9) All powers are vested with the Central Government: The Central Government is vested with the authority to give directions on matters and policies. It will be vested with the authority to supersede or dissolve the Commission. Thus, already appointed authorities, combined with nomination and appointments shall reduce it to be a department of the Central Government.
In a nutshell, the proposed Bill is anti-poor, pro-rich, undemocratic, anti-federal, corruption-breeding and Centralising all the powers with the Central Government and hence will compromise patient safety and public welfare. Thus this draconian Bill needs to be rejected lock, stock and barrel.
Are you hearing friends?
(Disclaimer: This is part of the IMA letter we are sending to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare )
My thoughts about making health easier :
Make all tobacco, alcohol and addictive substances so expensive that only those who can afford the healthcare will be addicted.Banning is apparently too strict.Did you know these substances are responsible for a majority of the oral cancers in India?Did you know alcohol and tobacco together are synergistic in their cancer-causing potential?
Make medical education free or nominal cost for all students from the lower socio-economic background and payable for those who can afford it.I am sure no one will object.
Make rural service a part of the curriculum so that they are prepared to face rural health care challenges early.
The distrust between the people whom we serve and doctors is a social disease.This needs a cure and a prevention.Maybe making one person a doctor from each family in India will help restore the faith, trust and also increase the population of doctors in this country.
Health is a pillar of society.We have the fortunate task of helping restore health.But we have to cross many mountains before we reach home.
Do you have any ideas to improve healthcare in India?Comment below to let me know.
Sharing is good Karma!
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Madam how much percent possibility that this bill will be pass
That’s is such An informative post.
Very informative and amazing post. It is a best initiative awareness program. Great thought.
Thanks Humaira
You are doing a great job by educating people and spreading awareness regarding such isuues
Thanks Papri
So great that you are taking a step to spread awareness
Thank you Sneha
You know what is scary? When you mentioned about not being preferred to opt for treatment by these ‘quacks’ but how we never know if they were one. That’s scary. Some valid points here. Doctors are doing a lot for the society and we definitely need more of them!
Yes, we need more of them.
This is really shocking and an eye opener.. We can’t imagine that if this is the scenario in the medical sector then where shall we go? I firmly believe that this sector should be corruption free and may the right and the deserving candidates only gets selected for becoming a medical practicioner. For we all believe health is wealth and if this is scenario then I wonder where will a common man will go for his treatment if he is not in a position to afford one.. I hope that government listens to this plea of the common man and implements things that are beneficial for everyone
Corruption is a disease.if each of us take care to be better I think we can as a society rise above.But health care majorly in the hands of private players is cause for serious issues.
the contents of this bill are shocking! There doesnt seem to have much forethought or foresight gone into their drafting! I agree with your recommendations, these solutions need to be executed and we need to move forward rather than backward with every new bill we pass!
Very worrying
Its a great post and very informative too. Nothing can substitute the time spent in getting a proper education. Its scary and in the name of herbal, safe , chemical free, eco-friendly etc one can not put a life in danger. Will be sharing it in all possible ways.
Thank you
I wasnt aware of so many things you mentioned in this post
This is such a serious issues.. And this generation is actually more concerned about whats the social status than personal health status.. This is surely a eye opener article.
Thats definitely a shocker. Thanks for spreading the awareness
The situation has become so critical and so shocking. Thanks for sharing this. I was unaware about it.
Every individual in the country should know about this, because health comes first. You have covered all the points very well…
I’m intrigued with this post. Actually you shed light on so many lesser known topics. Loved it. I really think medicines should be made readily available in every area of the country.
Glad you liked it Reetu.
This is such an informative article ..i belong to a family of docs and completely understand your pain,plus the points you have mentioned for making things is better is praise worthy and reflects your sense of helping people and country at large.
Thank you for the kind words.
This is really great to know… I didn’t know so many of the points you so clearly explained.. Kudos for taking up such an amazing cause
This is serious and shocking. You have given some valuable pointers. Do tell us what we could do as social Influencers to create awareness about this…We all will contribute in whatever way we can…
Thanks, Utpal.Maybe you can share this post and excerpts from the letter as screenshots to create awareness.In a country where few can read the battle seems all uphill!
This is shocking! Thank you for explaining very simply in lay man’s terms what the implications of this bill are. Your suggestions are very practical…I really hope the right authorities take note.
I might be living under the rock because I had no clue about this situation. This is so scary. I so agree to your points make all these tobacco and alcohol so expensive that it goes out of reach from the poors hand who cant afford the treatment.
Sometimes we are grasping at straws to make sense.Any suggestions
This was an eye opener. Didnt know about the implications. Wish our media gave more coverage to such important topics than “what xyz wore on her wedding”.
So true.
So my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and the doctor who was supposed to operate her forgot to come and delayed the operation by 2 hours. I mean what the heck ???
With all this we are moving towards alarming health bills. God save us.
Yes, I too feel only God can save us.
To add to all this the Karnataka government wants to pass a bill which makes doctors vulnerable to be abused and mistreated. What a pathetic state of affairs!
The scary part is .everyone will suffer!Health is a pillar of society.
Didn’t know this side of the health care profession. It’s sad why this area is not given due concern when we keep on saying health is wealth.
Oh yes, health is your wealth until you give it away.
if the crippling healthcare costs made us worry, now we have reason to pray even more that we don’t fall sick. Quacks are everywhere even without a license. Imagine having them officially enter an OPD or OT and consult like real doctors! I sincerely hope it doesn’t happen.
A scary thought indeed.
Agreee. Health is wealth. Seems an interesting awareness campaign !
Never knew all such things, this is really bad. Thanks for spotting lights on this matter
My suggestion would be to create a robust system to let people make entry into the world of health services through a strict entry barrier into alternate medical practices. This way people will know who the real doctor is and who is a health/medical practitioner by interest (or more of a volunteer).
Yet, a very informative and eye-opening post.
Interesting suggestion Anupriya
while most of your concerns are valid, I BAMS doctors are not quacks. they are trained and go through the same four and half years that you and I have put in. Most of the BAMS doctors are also concerned about this new health bill, as this will effect their research and their system of therapy. The bigger fear is placing Ayurveda with CET and NEET, this creates the back door entry, we will have the characters…who will step into BAMS because they could not make it to MBBS, or BDS. the next hurdle is the collective attitude of the MBBS candidates, I say collective because it involves parents and teaching, MBBS has become a qualifier for MD/MS, that will happen with BAMS too. so we will loose the entire first line of family practioners.
Definitely food for thought.
Wow they are making the Central government accountable for everything and taking away all the controls from the state government. I agree with making tobacco and alcohol very expensive so that the lower strata should not be able to buy it and not consume it as they will find the medication difficult to afford
Yes I thought so too.
I work with tobacco and alcohol addicts, I have been working with them since 1993, the abusers are across socio-economic strata.
Thats true.But if the abusers are not able to afford the addictions maybe things will be better?Just a thought.
No, it increases the debt cycle and other issues arises. If the substance is banned then the black market thrives we have seen the black market fall out on the gutka front and social issues on the hooch front.
I’m so happy to have bumped into ur post.. This is such an eye opener.
You know we are loosing our tongues as the power is being centralised rapidly. I agree with you that corruption needs to be uprooted and quality medical assistance needs to be provided to all
Yes true
Not know the depth of this bill. This will effect the health facilities in India. Thanks for sharing awareness on this bill
Its so sad. Didnt know the conditions were so bad. India’s private healthcare sector is not regulated and many are not registered and thats the reason there are a lot of quacks. Hope to see some change in future.
It’s a deep rooted problem.
Improving the healthcare in India can be done if we have doctors with certified doctors easily approachable to people. Reducing the price of some commonly used drugly and subsidising very costly ones will definitely help.
Very good tips Nameesh!
A doctor from every family will surly progress our country. This is a very wise advice.
I wish !
The facts I read here are so alarming. I wish at least medical sector could stay untouchable by corruption
Yes true.
Healthcare is an important pillar of our society and I definitely vouch for its sovereignty. Influencing the causes for volatile reasons will bring down what is already bleeding due to red tap-ism. Instead make IMA or Medical Colleges affordable and SOLELY merit based.
This latest amendment in Medical Bill will have be re-worked to bring best for society,
Needs a lot of work.
I wouldn’t approve of making medical education free or nominal fee for poor socio-economic conditions, as that is just adding to corruption. In a country where just to avoid fee, people easily get hold of ebc or caste certificates, I wonder if this will even hold water.
There is a lot that needs to change, not just in admissions but also in the way healthcare system works and the conditions offered in public healthcare places.
Interesting point.How do you think the Government can make it affordable and still instill the sense of service in students?
This is so bad! Never really thought about this until read your post! Will share this with all! 🙁
That was informative, didn’t knew the impacts of this bill..why don’t we have such debates rather than debating padmavat ..
I wonder too!
Interesting read !! We shouldn’t ignore health, it’s our asset.
Shared it once… Will keep sharing. More people need to read this.
Thanks, Dr.Roshan
There are issues that really matter. Its an interesting read.
Yes .Health matters to everyone.
True, when some is critically ill, you realize how trivial most other issues are.
Yes.Life is happy only with good health.Very little other things matter if we are not having a healthy body and mind.
I really hope that something could be done / can be done for this bill. It would be good if our friends don’t focus more on Padmavat but on matters which really matter.
Unfortunate but sad fact