Sakshi Education
By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.
Controversy revolves around:
One is the federal aspect. Medical education is in the Concurrent List. But there is centralisation. The members of the commission will be appointed by a search committee formed by the central government.
The nomination of important functionaries of the NMC being exclusively with the Centre, may give rise to nepotism, partiality and corruption that had infested the MCI.
The NMC Act, under Section 32(1) provides for granting of a limited license to practice medicine at mid-level as Community Health Provider (CHP). The rationale for this provision is that there is one doctor for every 1,445 Indians as per the country's current population estimate of 135 crore as compared to the WHO standards of 1:1000. Criticism is that it could lead to quackery.
National Exit Test, or NEXT is also criticised because the premise that exit examinations produce good student is under scrutiny the world over.
Another criticism is, evaluating an MBBS student at the end of the final year through multiple choice questions (MCQs) is not a advisable: Existing evidence from across the world clearly favours subjective clinical evaluation as the best means to evaluate an upcoming doctor.
National Medical Commission (NMC) replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) as the new regulator for medical education and medical professionals in the country. The NITI Aayog had recommended the change. The reason is that MCI has been marred with corruption.
Main Functions of the NMC include:
Main Functions of the NMC include:
- Laying down policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals.
- Assessing the requirements of human resources and infrastructure in healthcare.
- Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils with the regulations made under the Bill.
- Framing guidelines for determination of fee for up to 50% of the seats in the private medical institutions.
- The NMC will make guidelines for a new cadre of non-MBBS mid-level health service providers such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists with limited rights to prescribe Medicines.
Controversy revolves around:
One is the federal aspect. Medical education is in the Concurrent List. But there is centralisation. The members of the commission will be appointed by a search committee formed by the central government.
The nomination of important functionaries of the NMC being exclusively with the Centre, may give rise to nepotism, partiality and corruption that had infested the MCI.
The NMC Act, under Section 32(1) provides for granting of a limited license to practice medicine at mid-level as Community Health Provider (CHP). The rationale for this provision is that there is one doctor for every 1,445 Indians as per the country's current population estimate of 135 crore as compared to the WHO standards of 1:1000. Criticism is that it could lead to quackery.
National Exit Test, or NEXT is also criticised because the premise that exit examinations produce good student is under scrutiny the world over. Another criticism is, evaluating an MBBS student at the end of the final year through multiple choice questions (MCQs) is not a advisable: Existing evidence from across the world clearly favours subjective clinical evaluation as the best means to evaluate an upcoming doctor.
Published date : 19 Nov 2020 03:04PM
