In recent years, there have been noteworthy changes in the healthcare sector in India. The National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers have proposed new guidelines and policies to upgrade the medical sector. This article would delve into the Draft Guidelines For Medical Registration, Draft National Policy for the Medical Devices for 2022, the National Exit Test (NExT), and other government interventions in the medical field.
The National Medical Commission (NMC)
The National Medical Commission (NMC) was formed as a replacement of the Medical Council of India (MCI), initially established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1933. MCI’s primary objective was to establish uniform standards of higher qualifications in medicine and acknowledge medical qualifications in India and abroad. In 2018, the MCI was dissolved due to allegations of corruption and replaced by a Board of Governors (BoG), chaired by a member of NITI Aayog. The IMC Act, 1956 has been repealed and the National Medical Commission Act has replaced it since August 8th, 2019. The change aims to introduce reforms in medical education, and the NMC will function as India’s top regulator of medical education, overseeing undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, medical assessment and rating, and ethics and medical registration.
Proposed Draft Guidelines For Medical Registration
NMC aims to standardize the registration process of medical practitioners in India. The proposed draft guidelines for medical registration include creating a national medical register with a unique ID assigned to each student who qualifies the NEET and other professional qualifications. The registration also opens up opportunities for foreign doctors who wish to study in post-graduation courses, undertake clinical research, or offer voluntary clinical services in India.
National Exit Test (NExT)
The draft guidelines state that Indian medical graduates would be eligible for registration in the National Medical Register upon completion of their MBBS degree from a recognized college, a mandatory year-long internship, and passing the National Exit Test (NExT). The NExT promises to level the playing field for all and will also serve as the qualifying test for postgraduate programmes. Until its introduction, the existing processes will continue. The government plans to conduct the NExT from 2024 onwards.
Draft National Policy for the Medical Devices for 2022
Apart from the above changes, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has released an Approach Paper for the Draft National Policy for the Medical Devices for 2022. More information on this is awaited as the policy is yet under consideration.
Conclusion
The various draft guidelines and policies proposed by the National Medical Commission and the Department of Pharmaceuticals are steps towards improving the medical sector in India. The implementation of these guidelines is expected to bring uniformity and quality control in the medical field, ensuring better healthcare services in India.