The Lok Sabha on Monday passed two bills for the availability of high-quality medical professionals both for homeopathic treatment as well as in the Indian System of Medicine. They were-
- The National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, 2019 and
- The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019.
These bills were passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 19, 2020, during this year’s Budget Session. Wherein MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the government for not incorporating suggestions of the Standing Committee. The Committee had recommended that an Appellate Tribunal should be created to hear appeals from the decision of two Commissions. However, the government Bill stipulates that all appeals will lie before the Central Government.
Several members opposed the bills for non-inclusion of yoga and naturopathy. Notably Health Minister was not given an opportunity to respond to the concerns, due to time constraints. However, when the bill was discussed in the Upper House, Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik, had pointed out the bills had provisions for Joint Sittings of both the Commissions with the National Commissions with the National Commission for yoga and Naturopathy and National Medical Commission.
It shall now be presented before the President for assent. The commission proposes to frame policies for regulation medical institutions and homoeopathic medical professionals, and assess the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure. It will also coordinate the autonomous boards set up under the bill and ensure compliance of the regulations made under the bill by the State Medical Councils of Homeopathy.
The bill also proposes to conduct a National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and a Post Graduate National Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate and post-graduate courses in each of the discipline of the Indian System of Medicine Education in all medical Institutions regulated by the bill. It also proposes a common final year National Exit Test for the students graduating from medical institutions to obtain the license for practice.
