NMC Bill is not a Pill (sweet or bitter) but Poison
https://www.plexusmd.com/…/nmc-bill-a-bitter-sweet-pi…/33538
The article by Dr Rohan Desai on behalf of Plexus MD is disappointing with a lopsided picture being glorified. If we go point wise;
The Concern 1 which has been answered that there there are 64-80 % doctors in the National Medical Commission is valid but the point remains that election from among rank and file doctors permitted a wide array of 120 doctors from specialists to superspecialists and General Practitioners both from urban and rural areas to be part of the MCI and give their inputs. Now with only 5 elected members this representation will be severely curtailed and the predominately nominated body will be a direct extension of Ministry of Health and Family welfare. This bureaucratic dominance even if they are doctor-bureaucrats specially when 70-80 % of healthcare in India is provided by small and medium healthcare establishments is unacceptable. The NMC is the body which is to govern the training and practice of all medical specialities. Limited representation by a bureaucrat predominant body will cut it off from the ground reality which will not be in national interest.
The Concern 2 which has addressed by him argues the benefit of bridge course that it will take care of lack of doctors in rural area. Let us not parrot the Government line. What is the place where an MBBS doctor in the country is posted to serve the rural population; Primary Health Centre. How many primary health centres exist in country; 27000. What is the vacancy for MBBS doctors wanting to serve in rural area in these PHCs 2700. What is total number of MBBS doctors produced in the country 60000 per year. Is it so difficult to fill 2700 posts from among 60000 pass outs. Problem is you do not have sufficient posts for MBBS doctors to work in rural areas. If you do not have sufficient PHCs or sufficient vacancies what are you going to do with extra bridge course doctors masquerading as MBBS doctors. The reason for wanting bridge course is to benefit the lobby of Private medical education institutes where AYUSH courses are imparted which are currently not able to attract students.
Concern 3 private medical education cost will skyrocket; The problem is that Government has mentioned that it will control fee for upto 40 % of seats in private medical colleges. This should be rectified to say that Govt will control the fee in 40 % seats in Pvt medical colleges.
Concern 4 Mandatory exit exam; Already we see that 10th to 12th standard students bunk schools to attend coaching classes which train them on how to crack the entrance exams like NEET. With exit exam should we now expect dummy medical colleges where students will be enrolled but will bunk them to attend coaching classes which will train them on how to crack the exit exam. These doctors will be good at multiple choice questions but will have no clinical skills. Medicine is not only a science but also an art which cannot be taught in classrooms. The clinical rounds, the demonstration of bedside mannerism of the senior colleagues the communication skills besides the empathy are all non quantifiable objectives which cannot be measured in an exam.
Conclusion
Neeti Ayog has faulted in its basic premise when it has stated that the governed should not elect the governors. We live in a democracy and by this premise we should abandon the parliamentary system in favour of a dictatorship where the government is “search and selected” by a supreme authority.
Dr Neeraj Nagpal
Convenor,Medicos Legal Action Group, Managing Director MLAG Indemnity,
Ex President IMA Chandigarh
Director Hope Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic,
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