National Medical Commission Bill: Parliamentary Standing Committee invite public suggestions

New Delhi: Good News!! Medical Professionals across the country have now got a golden opportunity to present their viewpoints on the bill as the Standing Committee of the Parliament to whom the bill had been referred, has now invited comments from the public. The suggestions/comments can be both mailed to the committee and the committee has also given a chance to people to appear in person and present oral evidence to the said committee.

The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 29th December 2017. With the strong opposition from many members of the medical fraternity including the Indian Medical Association, the said bill was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, M.P., Rajya Sabha on 4th January, 2018 for examination and report by the last day of the first week of the Budget'Session, 2018.

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The said committee has now invited suggestions/comments from the public on the bill. The advertisement to this effect was recently out in dailies. It said

Considering the wider implications of the proposed legislation on the regulatory oversight of the medical education in the country and for an in-depth study of the Bill, the Committee has decided to invite suggestions/ comments from individuals/organisations on the Bill.

The open invitation asks for both written comments as well as oral comments, giving an opportunity to appear in person before the committee and present their evidence

Those desirous of submitting memoranda may send the same to Shri Dinesh Singh, Additional Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Room 411 Fourth Floor, Parliament House Annexe Extension Building, New Delhi - 110001 [Tel: 011-23035581 (0)] E-mail: rs^-chfw@sansad.nic.in within 10 days of publication of the advertisement. Those who are also willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence may indicate so in their memorandum.

However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final. The memoranda submitted to the Committee will form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as strictly confidential and may not be made public, an such an act would constitute breach of privilege of the Committee. For more details and for downloading copy of the Bill, please visit the website of the Rajya Sabha (httpl/rAiyasabha.nic in) under the link 'Bills with the Committees'.

The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 inter alia seeks to provide for a medical education system that ensures availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals; that encourages medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research; that has an objective periodic assessment of medical institutions and facilitates maintenance of a medical register for India and enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services; that is flexible to adapt to changing needs and has an effective grievance redressal mechanism and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Bill has created a strong divide in the medical community with some openly opposing the bill, while many coming out in support of it.