This Act repealed the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and replaced the corruption-tainted Medical Council of India (MCI) with the National Medical Commission.
Key Objectives & Provisions
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- Regulatory Oversight: The NMC acts as the apex body for regulating medical education, professionals, and institutions.
- Four Autonomous Boards: The NMC operates through:
1. Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB)
2. Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)
3. Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB): To inspect and rate medical colleges.
4. Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB): To maintain the National Register of doctors.
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- National Exit Test (NExT): A common final-year MBBS exam that serves three purposes:
- A licentiate exam to practice medicine.
- An entrance exam for PG courses.
- A screening test for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).
- Fee Regulation: The NMC has the power to frame guidelines for determining fees for 50% of seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities.
- Community Health Providers (CHPs): Allows the NMC to grant limited licenses to mid-level practitioners to provide primary healthcare in rural areas (aimed at fixing the rural doctor shortage).
- National Exit Test (NExT): A common final-year MBBS exam that serves three purposes:
Address the “Quality vs. Quantity” debate. While it streamlines education, critics argue the central appointment of members reduces the autonomy of medical professionals.
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