National Dental Commission Bill, Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill Passed in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Dental and Nursing education in India is likely to undergo a major change in the coming time as the Lok Sabha on Friday passed the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023, and the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023.
Moving the bills for consideration and passing, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said these would help improve the quality of nursing and dental education in the country and strengthen the regulatory framework. The intention is to improve the quality of education so that the dentists, doctors and nursing staff give best service to people in India and abroad, Mandaviya said.
The two bills were later passed by voice vote amid slogan shouting by opposition MPs who were protesting on the Manipur issue, reports PTI.
Repealing the Dentists Act, 1948, the National Dental Commission Bill proposes to set up National Dental Commission (NMC) to regulate dental education and the profession in the country. It also aims to make dental education affordable and make quality oral healthcare accessible.
On the other hand, the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 aims at setting up National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) and to repeal the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947.
The Bill provides for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a national register as well as state registers.
Also Read: Soon: NExT exam for BDS, bill introduced in Parliament
National Dental Commission Bill, 2023:
Introduced by the Union Health Ministry on Monday, the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 seems to be structurally similar to that of the National Medical Commission (NMC), which had previously replaced the erstwhile Apex medical body i.e. the Medical Council of India (MCI). Now, the proposed National Dental Commission is likely to replace the Dental Council of India, the apex dental education regulatory body in the country.
The Central Government introduced this bill in the Lok Sabha with an aim to regulate the profession of dentistry in the country, to provide for quality and affordable dental education, to make accessible high quality oral healthcare and for connected matters.
According to the Bill, the National Dental Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, eight ex officio Members, and twenty-four part-time members. It further mentions that the Central Government shall constitute Autonomous Boards, under the overall supervision of the Commission, to perform the functions assigned to such Boards.
Among the major issues addressed in the Bill, one of its key point is to introduce a 'National Exit Test (Dental)'. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Bill stated that just like NExT examination for the medical students, the National Exit Test (Dental) would also be mandatory for dental students to be granted a licence to practice dentistry.
Apart from getting enrolled in the State and National Register, the NExT (Dental) examination shall also be the basis for admission to the postgraduate dental education in dental institutions, mentioned the Bill.
National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023:
The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill aims to set up the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) and will repeal the Indian Nursing Council Act, of 1947, to streamline nursing education in India.
The major objectives of the commission as per the proposed National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 are to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a Central Register and State Registers and creation of a system to improve access, research and development and adoption of latest scientific advancements.
Clause 4 of the Bill seeks to provide for the composition of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission, and the appointment and qualifications of its constituent Members. The Commission shall be a twenty-nine-member body comprising of a Chairperson, sixteen ex-officio Members and twelve Members. Of the twelve members, six members, one from each of the six zones, shall be nominated by the State Governments. Four members, of whom at least two should be midwifery professionals, will be nominated by the Central Government on the recommendation of a Search-cum-Selection Committee. One member will be from nonnursing and midwifery background and one member representing charitable institutes in the field of nursing and midwifery, both to be appointed by the Central Government.
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