NEW DELHI: A draft of the National Medical Commission Bill, with some modifications, has been approved by a Group of Ministers (GoM), the government informed the Rajya Sabha.

The GoM was constituted to have a "relook" at the National Medical Commission Bill which was drafted by a four- member committee, headed by vice chairman of NITI Aayog, to examine all options for reforms in the Medical Council of India (MCI) and suggest a way forward, Minister of state for health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply.

"The committee has framed a draft NMC Bill which provides for constitution of the NMC in place of the MCI.

"The draft Bill has been relooked by a Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted for the purpose. The GoM has approved the draft bill with some modifications," he said.

He pointed out that the NITI Aayog committee had consulted all the states and the UTs while framing of the draft Bill.

"The opinion of experts and academicians was elicited through discussions," he said.

The draft Bill was also hosted on the website of Niti Aayog inviting public comments while representation of IMA was also received in the matter which has been considered while framing the draft Bill, he said.

The bill seeks to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new Commission to steer medical education in the country.