The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament, will be notified in the gazette soon, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said. "Once notified, the rules will be framed and the NMC will be constituted for development and regulation of all aspects of medical education, profession and institutions. All these things will be done within six months," he added.
The NMC will replace the scam-tainted Medical Council of India. The president dissolved the MCI in 2018 and a board of governors was appointed to perform its functions.
Terming the NMC Act, a "progressive" legislation, Vardhan said it will ensure probity, quality education and bring down costs of medical education. It simplifies procedures and provides wider access to people for quality healthcare.
Referring to protests against certain provisions of the NMC Bill, Vardhan said, "Medical students and residents doctors had some misunderstandings and misconceptions about some provisions of the bill. I have cleared their doubts."
The legislation provides for national entrance test — NEET — along with common counselling for MBBS, and a common final year MBBS exam, to be known as National Exit Test (NEXT), which will be applicable to all institutes including those of national importance like AIIMS.
The NEXT results would be the base for admission to post-graduate courses and to obtain license to practice. It would also act as a screening test for foreign medical graduates.
"This provision will eliminate the need for students to approach multiple colleges and take part in multiple counselling processes for admission. This will save students and their families unnecessary physical and financial trauma," Vardhan said.
"Once a candidate clears NEXT, he can register himself and obtain a licence to practice. The Act does not impose any restriction on the number of attempts at NEXT for improving the rank for admission to post-graduate courses," he said.
The NMC will be an overarching body, which will frame policies and coordinate activities of four autonomous boards. These boards will look after the work of under-graduate and post-graduate education, Medical Assessment and Rating and Ethics and Medical Registration.
Dismissing fears about NMC being dominated by Central nominees, Vardhan said, "This is not true. There will be 10 vice-chancellors of state health universities and nine elected members of state medical councils in the NMC."