FORDA asks govt to quash licentiate exam provision in NMC Bill

On a day the recommendations of a parliamentary panel on National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill was tabled in Parliament, Federation of Resident Doctors Association today asked the government to quash the provision of National Licentiate Examination (NLE) in the proposed legislation.

The proposed National Licentiate Examination will put "undue stress" on students, especially those from backward sections who cannot afford private tuition, the panel said today while recommending integration of NLE with the final year MBBS exam.

The committee also said the 'bridge course', proposed in the NMC Bill to allow practitioners of alternative medicines, such as homoeopathy and ayurveda, to practise allopathy, should not be made mandatory provision.

The recommendations were made by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its report on the National Medical Commission Bill 2017, tabled in Parliament today.

Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA) said the changes in the Bill were required for betterment of public health and the quality of medical education in India.

Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), India said it is thankful to the parliamentary committee for considering its recommendation as the NMC Bill now states that the 'bridge course' is not mandatory.

"However, the states have been instructed to improve their healthcare services by enhancing the capacity of AYUSH practitioners, BDS, B.Pharma, B.Sc(Nursing) etc. This needs clarification as to how the states are supposed to implement the same," it said.

On the committee's recommendation on licentiate exam, FORDA said no clarification has been made about the same.

"Instead of scrapping the licentiate exam, this will overburden the already stressed out final year students and also questions the government's faith in the Medical Education system of the country.

"FORDA, India demands the Government of India to totally quash the Licentiate Examination," it said.

The body, however, said that their concern regarding privatisation of medical education has not been addressed.

"The NMC Bill has recommended to devise a dynamic course for creating qualified healthcare personnels. We, doctors, are always ready to serve the community in any part of the country.

"But the government should improve the basic infrastructure of peripheral healthcare facilities first. Devising a course for medical students is not the solution to the problem of shortage of healthcare personnels at the periphery," FORDA said.

The IMA said after the solid representations to the committee, they had agreed to some of the demands amendable in the bill.

"Though the modifications are advisory and kept as recommendations to the government, the IMA feels that it is another step towards success," it said.

"The first win was registered against the proposed bill on January 2 when the strike by IMA forced the government to refer the draft to the committee. We believe that the medical fraternity has won again which is attributable to the month-long mass contact program -- 'Bharat Yatra' -- which was flagged off on February 25 by our national president.

"The changes were required for the welfare of the public health and the quality of medical education in India. It is mandatory to keep the pressure sustained and focused until the Government of India accepts it," Secretary General of IMA Dr R N Tandon said.

The IMA said that it will organised a 'Doctor's Mahapanchayat' on March 25 where medical fraternities from all over the country will gather to decide future course of action.