Indian Medical Council bill is the need of the hour: Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi, July. 2 (HS): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2019 that amends the Indian Medical  Council Act, 1956 replacing the Ordinance promulgated on February 21, 2019 was the need of the hour.

Vardhan addressed the Lok Sabha and spoke in great detail about the bill being a priority for the Modi government  discussed the bill as well as facilitated its passage on the floor of the Parliament.

“In the last two decades , a perception had been built about the  Medical Council of India (MCI) failing to discharge its  responsibilities and  had become a hub of corruption as well as corrupt practices”, said the minister.

The minister urged all the members in the Lower House to support the bill  added that the current bill  proposed by Modi government  was simple and there were procedural issues but passing this bill was the need of the hour. The bill is aimed at bring transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country and supercedes the Medical Council of India for a period of two years from September. 26, 2018 during which the board of governors consisting of eminent doctors who  would run the medical regulatory body. The bill proposes to increase the number of people heading the  Board of governors to 12 from the existing 7.  Participating in the bill, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary  opposed the ordinance route taken by the government to supercede the Medical Council of India saying it was unhealthy for the democracy.

Chaudhary added that the MCI had become a scam tainted authority.  Participating in the debate, BJP’s Sanjay Jaiswal said the government should look for good and whole-time professors for medical colleges. Opposing the bill, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Gautham Sigamani Pon said the intent of this government was to undermine the powers of the state.