National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, referred to Standing Committee

New Delhi, Jan 2: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday referred The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017,which seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with a new body, to the Standing Committee .

The Committee has been asked to submit its report before Parliament's Budget Session.
Doctors across the nation are on strike today against the provisions of the bill which seeks to allow those practicing alternative and traditional medicine to practice allopathy after completing a "bridge course".
In the Lok Sabha, opposition parties demanded that the bill must be sent to the Standing Committee related to the Ministry of Health and Children Welfare for detailed discussion and only after the recommendations of the Committee, it should be brought in the House.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Anant Kumar agreed in the house on the opposition demands and said Government is not against the sending the bill to the Standing Committee.
He said, "after taking into the consideration the demands of several members of the House and medical fraternity, the National Medical Commission Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee."
Mr Kumar also requested the Chair to ask the committee to give its recommendation prior to Parliament's Budget session.
On his request, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan referred the bill to the Standing Committee.
The Bill proposes a government-nominated chairman and members, who will be selected by a committee under the Cabinet Secretary. The medical fraternity is opposing the clause fearing the body would effectively be run by the government.
Earlier, the issue of doctors' strike was raised in both Houses of Parliament during Zero Hour.
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said the Bill should be scrapped.
Prof Roy said today thousands of doctors are on a nationwide strike to protest against the proposed law.
He added, ' this is an undemocratic Bill and it should be scrapped.'
N K Premachandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party) also associated with Prof Roy over the issue.
All India Anna Dravidra Munnetra Kaghazam's C Mahendran said the National Medical Commission Bill has shortcomings and it should be sent to Select Committee of Parliament.
The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, that seeks to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI) was on introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday. UNI