President nod to MCI takeover by Board of Governors

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The Bill calls for supersession of the MCI and handing over its responsibilities to the Board of Governors which consist of up to seven members including persons of eminence in medical education, appointed by the central government. Further, the Ordinance provides for the Board of Governors to be assisted by a Secretary-General appointed by the central government.

However, the said bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. Following this, the Union Cabinet has once again approved the re-issuance of the ordinance to allow a committee-run the scam-tainted Medical Council of India (MCI), sources told PTI.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2017 that seeks to overhaul the medical education system in India and replace MCI is yet to be passed by Parliament, and the term of MCI's elected body members was about to end. To overcome the situation, the government had last year for the first time issued an ordinance to supersede MCI and give its powers to a Board of Governors (BoG). The BoG will continue to perform till a council is constituted in line with the provisions of the MCI Act in one year.