Bill to amend Homeopathy Act introduced in RS

Government today introduced in Rajya Sabha a bill to amend the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, which provides for constitution of the Central Council of Homeopathy for regulation of educational standards of medical colleges imparting education.
The Cabinet had given its nod to the amendment to Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 in a meeting on March 31 this year.
The amendment seeks to make a provision for obtaining prior permission of the central government by all Homeopathy Medical Colleges for admission of new batches of students in any course or study or training including post graduate ones.
It seeks to provide the permission for a period of five years.

"The proposed amendment will ensure quality of Homeopathy education leading to better healthcare through Homeopathy system of medicine," the statement of objects and reasons of the bill moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
This amendment in the Act, will make provisions relating to granting permission by Central Government to all homoeopathic medical colleges for continuing course/courses, so as to ensure that homoeopathy education is given only through colleges which can impart quality education.

With this, the central government's permission to undertake annual admissions is being made mandatory for all the homoeopathy colleges and also the provision to give permission for five years to colleges which conform, to the prescribed standards, has been incorporated.

This amendment will ensure quality homoeopathy education leading to better healthcare through the homeopathy system of medicine.
The existing provisions in the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 are not enabling the Central Government to stop admissions in existing colleges, which are not conforming to standards specified in the regulations made under the Act.
Government felt that due to this, the quality of homoeopathy education was being compromised.
The amendment shall therefore, improve standards of existing colleges to the prescribed levels and ensure similar standards of infrastructure, facilities and manpower in existing homoeopathic colleges as would be required for new colleges.