Mentors Comments:
1. Discuss the provisions of NMC Act
2. Why was it brought in first place and what are the intended benefits of the body.
3. What are its limitations
4. What should be done to do away those limitations?
5. Provide a suitable conclusion
Answer:
The National Medical Commission Bill is the product of the NITI Aayog and was drafted following a scathing standing committee report in 2016 on the corrupt functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI). It will repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.
Following are the reasons for which the govt sought to replace the MCI-
1. The Medical Council of India has repeatedly been found short of fulfilling its mandated responsibilities.
2. Quality of medical education is at its lowest ebb; the current model of medical education is not producing the right type of health professionals that meet the basic health needs of the country because medical education and curricula are not integrated with the needs of our health system.
3. Medical graduates lack competence in performing basic health care tasks like conducting normal deliveries; instances of unethical practice continue to grow due to which respect for the profession has dwindled.
4. Compromised individuals have been able to make it to the MCI, but the Ministry is not empowered to remove or sanction a Member of the Council even if he has been proved corrupt.
Salient Features of the NMC Bill
1. Functions of the National Medical Commission will include:
Regulating medical institutions and medical professionals
Assessing the requirements of healthcare-related human resources and infrastructure
Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils
Framing guidelines for determination of fees for up to 50% of the seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities
2. It provides for 4 autonomous boards viz Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, Post-Graduate Medical Education Board etc under the supervision of the NMC.
3. It seeks to grant limited license to certain mid-level practitioners connected with the modern medical profession to practice medicine.
4. It provides for uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for UG and PG courses.
5. It provides for National Exit Test, to obtain the license for the practice.
Significance of National Medical Commission Bill, 2019
1. The NMC has the potential to link the disease burden and the specialties being produced.
2. By introducing qualifying exams like NEET and NEXT, NMC can instill uniformity in the standard of competence and skills.
3. The State Medical Council will act as a grievance redressal body for any complaints relating to professional or ethical misconduct against a registered medical practitioner.
4. NMC can encourage and incentivise innovation and promote research by laying down rules that make research a prerequisite in medical colleges.
5. NMC can encourage and incentivise innovation and promote research by laying down rules that make research a prerequisite in medical colleges.
Concerns:
The composition of the members of NMC which are to be nominated by the Union government can possibly lead to favouritism and bureaucratic interference.
The extensive discretionary powers that the Bill provides to government reduce the accountability of NMC and make it virtually an advisory body.
The NMC Bill provides for licensing of 3.5 lakhs non-medical persons to practise modern medicine. However, the term Community Health Provider has been vaguely defined.
The capping of the fees of 50% of seats in private medical colleges is dubbed to be anti-poor, as the remaining 50% of seats which is called the management quota, will witness a high rise in fees. This can deny admission to poor students on 50% seats.
Way Forward
To bolster healthcare delivery there can be a three-year diploma for rural medical-care providers, along the lines of the Licentiate Medical Practitioners who practised in India before 1946.
NMC shouldn’t open gates to overseas doctors to regularly practice medicine or perform surgery without qualifying the National Licentiate Examination or induct Ayush colleagues without clearing NEXT.
Also, the accreditation and rating function of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) should be out of the ambit of NMC. This was also the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee report in March 2016.
Clear guidelines are required indicating the circumstances and diseases where traditional practitioners can prescribe allopathic medicines.
India has suffered from the problem of inappropriately trained doctors of varying quality since a very long time. The NMC should not worsen this rather help in improving the medical education and practice in the country. In addition to this, the government must thoroughly focus on addressing much bigger issues like Antibiotic resistance, crunch in public expenditure in health etc.
Payment ID: MOJO9731Y00N34245077
The intro and main body are very good.
Content is in depth.
But the way forward needs better focus.
You have space left in the page.
Use that to mention the solutions wrt the bill and functioning of the institution. That should be the direction.
Rest of the answer is fine
MOJO9803R00N96087322
Hi Megha
Juts mention “report published in the Parliament.” Dont over go with the details. Keep it short and simple.
The main body is excellent.
Your structure, though haphazard at some places, is overall decent.
The content and the elements in it are superb.
There are many more concerns which can be explored. read the model answer for that.
Good way forwards.
Waiting for your valuable suggestions
Hi Neha
The content is good.
But presentation is weak.
What are those small circles before each line? They point out bullet points while the sentences are in continuity of the previous lines. Avoid such methods. They dont solve any purpose and make it confusing to the examiner.
Work on your hand writing. Try not to change the style of inclination or font mid sentence. It looks bad.
Good flow chart.
Way forward is weak.
You have space left in the page.
Use that to mention the solutions wrt the bill and functioning of the institution. That should be the direction.
ok sir am going to work on recommendation thank you so much
Q3
Weak structure.
What are the main provisions of the Bill and upcoming institutions? Always mention the key features of any scheme, policy, and law after intro.
Also briefly mention the shortcomings of erstwhile MCI after intro.
After mentioning the key provisions, start your discussion of pros and cons.
You have discussed “concerns” and “limitations” in the answer But the direction is same. What is the point of such structuring? Try to mention similar points under single umbrella and do not repeat them in the answer.
Missing way forward.
Mention the solutions wrt the bill and functioning of the institution. That should be the direction.
q3
MOJO9731E00D34250209
With proper structuring, this could have been a better answer.
The overall content and direction is good.
Do not discuss the issues with earlier medical education regime in such great length
Just briefly explain the issues related to previous institutions.
Your main body is good.
Use the space gained through shortening the 1st part to write proper way forward.
Mention the solutions wrt the bill and functioning of the institution. That should be the direction.
Payment ID: MOJO9802W00A98715356
Please review
Good answer.
Structuring is good.
Content is informative and well explained.
Well tried.
Way forwards are excellent.
Q3. MOJO9808900D18943247
What are the main provisions of the Bill and upcoming institutions? Always mention the key features of any scheme, policy, and law after intro.
Also briefly mention the shortcomings of erstwhile MCI after intro.
After mentioning the key provisions, start your discussion of pros and cons.
Dont discuss pros and cons of a particular provision like NEXT. That is never an ideal option because the question is regarding the whole bill and institution. Do not give energy, time and space for something out of the periphery of the main question.
Missing way forward.
Mention the solutions wrt the bill and functioning of the institution. That should be the direction.
IDMOJO9728J00A50299555
Hi Amandeep
Mention the current challenges after intro. Dont place it after mentioning the key provisions. That breaks the flow of the discussion.
Main body is good.
But weak way forward.
Mention the solutions wrt the bill and functioning of the institution. That should be the direction.