Ram Nath Kovind Gives Green Signal to Replace MCI with IMC; Approval of Parliament Awaited

Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, has given his nod to replace Medical Council of India (MCI) with Indian Medical Council (IMC). The new council, IMC, has been recommended by NITI Ayog to overtake the corruption-tainted MCI. After the many cases of bribery and discrepancies in MCI, it was decided to replace it to bring transparency in the various functioning of the council. Most importantly, it will help to expand health care facilities all over India.

What is the  Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018?

It is the ordinance or rule represented in the year 2010 to supersede MCI. As of April 2009, Dr. Ketan Desai  (Former President of MCI) was arrested on the charges of Bribery. Thus, to regulate the body, the IMC was proposed to clean the mess. But the law could not be passed and hence the tenure fo the senior authorities extended.

Even in the subsequent progress in the formation of the body, the ordinance remained on the paper. It also faced stiff protest from medical practitioners, students etc. After the position of all the stakeholders, the ordinance has been cleared by the president.

The new council will be finally constituted once it is passed by the parliament. Earlier, it could not able to pass in the monsoon session. Until the council is formed the MCI will be regulated by five members.

The committee comprises of VK Paul the Niti Aayog member (health), Dr. Randeep Guleria the Director at AIIMS ( New Delhi), Dr. Jagat Ram the Director at PGIMER (Chandigarh),  Dr. BN Gangadhar the Director at  NIMHANS (Bangalore), Dr. Nikhil Tanddon the professor at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at AIIMS (New Delhi).

Why MCI is replaced?

The MCI is well known for its non-cooperative and non-compliant behavior. Even the Oversight Committee formed to monitor MCI earlier was dissolved after the lack of cooperation by the members of the Medical Council of India.

After the new proposal, president, vice-president and other associated members of MCI were asked to vacate their office immediately. Even 80 out of the 103 council members will end in November or December.

Changes after the formation of the New Council

With the introduction of the new council, the complete autonomy will lie in the hands of the government. Even, the members will be selected by the government in a transparent manner. The bill is also expected to improve the quality of education and the governance. Most expectedly the corruption in the system will reduce. Though the council will become more bureaucratic.

According to the law, the 50% of seat fees can be regulated by private colleges. This may increase the cost of education and following that the cost of healthcare. The recent ordinance is seen as more market-oriented and may disturb the medical process.

How the new council will bring positive changes is yet to be seen.