National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 passed by Lok Sabha

The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 has been passed by Lok Sabha on Monday, according to news agency ANI. The Bill was introduced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha on July 22, 2019, and seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

Lok Sabha passes the National Medical Commission Bill, 2019. pic.twitter.com/FNG61aoc8U

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2019

The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 seeks to replace Indian Medical Council (IMC) with a National Medical Commission (NMC) and within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will establish State Medical Councils at the state level. While the Medical Council of India (MCI) was an autonomous body with two-third of its members (160 plus) being directly elected by the medical fraternity, the new one would have 25 members with no directly elected member.

The Bill proposes for a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate and post-graduate super-specialty medical education in all medical institutions regulated under the Bill. The NMC will specify the manner of conducting common counseling for admission in all such medical institutions.

The Bill also proposes a common final year undergraduate examination called the National Exit Test for the students graduating from medical institutions to obtain the license for the practice. This test will also serve as the basis for admission into post-graduate courses at medical institutions under this Bill.