Bill to extend MCI term by 1 year introduced in RS

A bill seeking to extend the tenure of the re-constituted apex body governing health education Medical Council of India (MCI) by another year was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill has already been passed in Lok Sabha. 

The government had superseded the MCI, a statutory body, in May last year following allegations of large-scale corruption against its then President and other officials by issuing an Ordinance. The Ordinance was replaced by the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 2010. 

As per the provisions of the Act, the Council had to be reconstituted within a period of one year from the date of its supersession and the government had appointed a Board of Governors for a period of one year. 

Meanwhile, the government had initiated a process to set up National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) as an overarching regulatory body. However, it could not be established and the bill had to be amended to extend the tenure for reconstitution of the Council.

 

Introducing the bill, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "The process of enacting NCHRH legislation has taken more time. The NCHRH bill requires 6-7 months more. In such circumstances, it was considered necessary to increase the period of reconstitution of the Council from one year to two years."