Medical Council of India

The Medical Council of India (MCI) is a statutory body for establishing uniform and high standards of medical education in India till formation of National Medical Commission From 14 October 2019. The Council grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice in India. The current President of MCI is Dr. Jayshreeben Mehta.

Medical Council of India
AbbreviationMCI
Formation1933
Dissolved2019
HeadquartersNew Delhi
LeaderJayshreeben Mehta, President
Main organ
Council
AffiliationsMinistry of Health and Family Welfare
WebsiteOfficial website

Now the Supreme Court has allowed the Central Government to replace the medical council and with the help of five specialized doctors monitor the medical education system in India, from July 2017.

The NITI Aayog has recommended the replacement of Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC). The decision has been approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister and NMC bill was passed by parliament and approved by President on 8 August 2019.[1][2][3]

History

The Medical Council of India was first established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933. The Council was later reconstituted under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 that replaced the earlier Act.

Following this, the Council was superseded by the President of India and its functions entrusted to a Board of Governors. The present Board of Governors was notified on 13 May 2011.

Again vide Govt. of India notification, the Council re-constituted and functioning currently.

Replenishment by NMC

National Medical Commission ordinance was brought in to replace Medical Council of India early this year through an ordinance issued in January, 2019 by the President of India. Now to replace replacing MCI a National Medical Commission Bill will be re-introduced in the coming session of Lok Sabha starting 17 June 2019.[4] An ordinance to allow a committee run the Medical Council of India (MCI) had been re-issued in January 2019, as a bill was pass in locksabha in 30 July and rajyasabha in 1 August and as, a bill to convert an earlier ordinance into a law is awaiting for President's approval.[5]

The Supreme Court had allowed the Central Government to replace the medical council and with the help of five specialized doctors monitor the medical education system in India, from July 2017.

The planning commission has recommended the replacement of Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC). The decision has been approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister it was to be proposed as final bill in the parliamentary sessions. [6]

Functions of the council

The main functions of the Medical Council of India are as follows:

  • Establishment and maintenance of uniform standards for undergraduate medical education.
  • Regulation of postgraduate medical education in medical colleges accredited by it. (The National Board of Examinations is another statutory body for postgraduate medical education in India).
  • Recognition of medical qualifications granted by University or UGC in medical institutions in India.
  • Recognition of foreign medical qualifications in India.
  • Accreditation of medical colleges.
  • Registration of doctors with recognized medical qualifications. The state medical councils maintains the register of doctors registered in each state which is then forward to the Medical council each quarter for updation in the national register. However, Foreign medical graduates have the option to directly register at the MCI.
  • Keeping a directory of all registered doctors (called the Indian Medical Register).
  • Making necessary amendments in the regulation related to medical education and practices.
Telemedicine

During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Medical Council of India made necessary guidelines for the telemedicine in India which was unethical till now. These regulations helped patients to consult their doctors during the pandemic without the need to visit the hospital [7]

Controversy

The MCI was dissolved by the President of India on 15 May 2010 following the arrest of MCI's president Ketan Desai by the CBI on 22 April 2010. Desai, alleged middle-man J. P. Singh and doctors Sukhwinder Singh and Kanwaljit Singh have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.[8][9] The CBI recovered 1.5 kg of gold and 80 kg of silver from Desai's premises. Further, gold worth ₨ 35 lakhs were recovered from Desai's bank lockers in Ahmedabad.[10] Ketan Desai, the head of urology at B J Medical College and president of the Gujarat Medical Council was caught by the CBI for accepting a bribe of 2 crores to grant recognition to a private college. He was immediately removed from the Medical council and his registration cancelled.

State Medical Councils

MCI Online

"MCI Online" is the portal of the Medical Council of India for online processing of applications for registration (of medical qualifications) and for professional certificates. "MCI Online" also provides online search of the Indian Medical Register. Medical Council of India has been superseded vide Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 (Ordinance 8 of 2018) dated 26.09.2018, by the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors has taken over functions of the Medical Council of India on 26.09.2018 AN.

Awards
  • Dr. B. C. Roy Awards: Dr. B.C. Roy National Award Fund was instituted in 1962 to perpetuate his memory. The Award is presented to distinguished medical person in each of the categories of Statesmanship of the Highest Order in our country, Medical man-cum-Statesman, Eminent Medical Person, Eminent person in Philosophy and Eminent person in Arts.
  • Hari Om Ashram Award: Hari Om Ashram Alembic Research Award Fund has decided to invite the nomination for Hari Om Ashram Alembic Research Awards under the categories of Basic Research in Medical Sciences, Clinical Research and Operational Research.
  • Silver Jubilee Award: Silver Jubilee Research Award Fund was given under the categories to give award to person for his original and outstanding work in the field of medical and allied science done in India, to give aid or assistance to project in medical colleges/medical institutions/organisations engaged in the development of medical education and to help medical research and to Grant Travel Fellowship.

See also

References
  1. http://www.newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=369825
  2. https://www.firstpost.com/india/president-gives-assent-to-national-medical-commission-bill-panel-to-replace-mci-will-be-formed-within-six-months-7134191.html
  3. "Medical Council of India is soon to be National Medical Commission". teluguglobal.in. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  4. "National Medical Commission Bill". Medical Dialogues.
  5. "Economic Times".
  6. "Medical Council of India is soon to be National Medical Commission". teluguglobal.in. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  7. "Telemedicine Practice Guidelines" (PDF). MOHFW. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  8. "Court extends judicial custody of Ketan Desai by 14 days". The Hindu. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  9. "President signs ordinance on MCI". The Hindu. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  10. "CBI: Desai owns 10 houses - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
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