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Context

• In a significant development concerning the payment of stipends for doctors undergoing their MBBS internships, the Supreme Court issued a clear directive to the National Medical Commission (NMC) on April 1st.

Details

• The court instructed the NMC to provide comprehensive details regarding the stipend status of medical colleges across all states in India.
• This directive from the Supreme Court underscores the importance of ensuring transparency and accountability in the payment of stipends to medical interns.

About National Medical Commission Act, 2019

• The National Medical Commission Act, 2019, aims to overhaul the medical education system in India by repealing the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

Constitution of the National Medical Commission (NMC):

• The act establishes the NMC, which will consist of 25 members appointed by the central government.
• Within three years of the act's passage, state governments will establish State Medical Councils at the state level.

Membership of the NMC:

• The NMC will include members such as the Chairperson (a medical practitioner), Presidents of the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Medical Education Boards, and other key officials.
• Five part-time members will be elected by registered medical practitioners from states and union territories for a two-year term.

Functions of the National Medical Commission:

The key functions of the NMC include:

• Policy Formulation: Lay down policies to ensure high quality and standards in medical education and formulate necessary regulations in this regard.
• Regulation of Medical Institutions and Professionals: Develop policies for regulating medical institutions, medical research, and medical professionals, and establish necessary regulations.
• Assessment of Healthcare Requirements: Assess the requirements in healthcare, including human resources for health and healthcare infrastructure, and develop strategies to meet such requirements.
• Promotion and Coordination: Promote and coordinate the functioning of the Commission, Autonomous Boards, and State Medical Councils by framing guidelines and policies and making necessary regulations.
• Coordination among Autonomous Boards: Ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards established under the NMC.
• Compliance Monitoring: Take measures to ensure compliance by State Medical Councils with the guidelines and regulations framed under the Act to facilitate their effective functioning.
• Appellate Jurisdiction: Exercise appellate jurisdiction over decisions made by the Autonomous Boards.
• Professional Ethics: Develop policies and codes to ensure the observance of professional ethics in the medical profession and promote ethical conduct during the provision of care by medical practitioners.
• Fee Regulation: Frame guidelines for determining fees and other charges for fifty percent of seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities governed under the provisions of the Act.
• Other Powers and Functions: Exercise other powers and perform additional functions as prescribed by law.

Medical Advisory Council:

• The central government will constitute a Medical Advisory Council to provide a platform for states/union territories to express their views and concerns to the NMC.
• The Council will advise the NMC on measures to determine and maintain minimum standards of medical education.

Autonomous Boards:

• The act establishes autonomous boards under the supervision of the NMC, including the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), and Ethics and Medical Registration Board.
• These boards will be responsible for formulating standards, curriculum, guidelines, granting recognition to medical qualifications, and regulating professional conduct.

Community Health Providers:

• The NMC may grant a limited license to mid-level practitioners connected with modern medical professions to practice medicine.
• These practitioners may prescribe specified medicines in primary and preventive healthcare under certain conditions.

Entrance Examinations:

• The act proposes a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate and post-graduate super-speciality medical education in all regulated medical institutions.
• It also introduces a common final year undergraduate examination called the National Exit Test for obtaining a practice license and admission to post-graduate courses.

Must read articles:

National Medical Commission’s new guidelines

National Medical Commission Bill 2022

Sources:

PRS

LiveLaw

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.  National Medical Commission Act, 2019, aims to ensure the availability of high-quality medical professionals, adoption of latest medical research, periodic assessment of medical institutions, and an effective grievance redressal mechanism in the medical education system of India.  Critically Analyse. (250 Words)