Lok Sabha Question No. 3270 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Medical Education Bill
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3270 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH JULY, 2019

## MEDICAL EDUCATION BI LL

## 3270. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

(a) whether the Government has amended the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 recently and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure transparency, account ability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country;

(c)  whether  the  new  Bill  provides  for  supersession  of  Medical  Council  of  India  (MCI) period of two years, if so, the details thereof and the reasons for superseding the MCI;

(d) whether the Government proposes to constitute National Medical Commission to replace MCI, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to constitute four autonomous boards for undergraduat medical education and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) :     Yes.
- (b) & (c ):    T o ensure transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medi education in the country , an Oversight Committee was constituted in pursuance of the directio of Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 2.5.2016 to oversee the functioning of Medic al Council of India (MCI).

The Secretary of the Ov rsight Committee vide letter dated 06.07.2018 conveyed that MCI is not following the instructions given to it by the Oversight Committee and not fur the information desired by it from time to tim e. Chairman and all Members of this Oversight Committee also tendered their resignations. Further, the Ministry had also come across certain arbitrary  recommendations  of  MCI  made  in  contravention  to  the  provisions  of  the  Ind Medical Council Act, 1956 an d regulations made thereunder.

Keeping in view of these developments which were adversely affecting the standards medical education, a conscious decision was taken to supersede the MCI for a period of years  and  entrust  its  affairs  to  a  Board  of  Governors  consisting  of  eminent  doc tors  so  as  to further ensure transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical educat the country. The decision was given effect through promulgation of an Ordinance. Furthe Indian  Medical  Council  (Amendment)  Bill,  2019  to  r eplace  the  Indian  Medical  Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 has been passed by the Lok Sabha on 02.07.2019 and by the Rajya Sabha on 04.07.2019.

(d) & (e):      The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 2 9.12.2017seeks to constitute a National Medical Commission in place of MCI for development and regulation of all aspects relating to medical education, medical profes medical institutions and provides for constitution of a Medical Advisory Council t o advise and make recommendations to the Commission along with the four Autonomous Boards -UnderGraduate Medical Education Board, Post - Graduate Medical Education Board, Medical Assessment and Rating Board and Ethics and Medical Registration Board. The Bi ll was initially introduced in Lok Sabha in December ,2017. However, it could not be passed and eventually got lapsed on dissolution of 16 th Lok Sabha.