Question : Medical Education

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has assessed that Medical Council of India (MCI) has failed in regulating the Medical education in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether NITI Aayog has recommended for scrapping the MCI which failed to increase the number of medical colleges in the country for producing more doctors in view of growing demand for healthcare services;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the NITI Aayog has prepared draft National Education Commission Bill to reassess healthcare and Medical education infrastructure and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether it is also a part of the decision of the Government for increasing the number of medical seats in medical colleges and if so, the details thereof and the follow up actions taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) to (e): The Central Government had constituted a Group of Experts (GoE) headed by Late Prof. Ranjit Roy Choudhary to study the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and make recommendations to the Government to make the Medical Council of India (MCI) modern and suited to the prevailing conditions. The report of GoE was subsequently examined by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare and they too made their recommendations. Further, a four member committee headed by Vice Chairman NITI Aayog was constituted to examine all options for reforms in MCI and suggest way forward. The Committee has framed a draft “National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill” which provides for constitution of NMC in place of MCI. The draft Bill has been relooked by a Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted for the purpose. The GoM has approved the draft Bill with some modifications. The proposed National Medical Commission shall have an Appellate Tribunal and four boards viz. Under-Graduate medical Education Board (UGMEB), Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMED), Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) and Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB).