PMO rejects proposal to scrap Medical Council of India
The Prime Minister’s Office has turned down a health ministry proposal to dissolve various regulatory bodies for medical and related institutions, and replace them with a new consolidated one. The PMO has declined to act, suggesting wider consultations before taking a final decision on bodies like the Medical Council of India and similar ones for dental and nursing colleges.
The health ministry had cited complaints of corruption in the bodies and sent its recommendations to the PMO for approval for a Cabinet note paving the way for an amendment to the Act under which the MCI was created. The ministry called for a consolidated regulator for all related disciplines. The PMO, however, seems to be of the view that there is a need for more consultations to arrive at a decision about the fate of MCI.
The PMO rejected the proposal, saying there was no surety that the new body replacing MCI would not develop shortcomings as of the present regulators, an official said. It has asked the ministry to consult more experts on the issue and devise a plan to cleanse the existing system rather than replacing it, sources in the ministry said.
When contacted, the health ministry reiterated its position about “complaints of rampant corruption” about the functioning of the MCI and DCI, and the need for a review. “There is an urgent need for a thorough review of complaints about the MCI,” minister of state for health Dinesh Trivedi said on Sunday. He questioned the utility of such bodies by pointing out that in the era of technology, such “inspection raj” was an oddity. “An institution needs to meet the required criteria and quality has to be constantly monitored,” he told TOI.
#respond6 Comments
john on April 6th, 2010
there is no doubt that mci is one of the most corrupt organisation.its high time its replaced
by a instituition consist of not only eminent doctors but public figures of eminence.unfortunately our primeminister never takes any bold decision.i wish he learns from kapil sibal and chidamberam.
Anna on May 6th, 2010
After reading the news paper and going through the web it is really sad the government is not taking any step to scrap the MCI. It seems the mci questions are meant to fail the clever students. Instead When the students returning from Russia etc. apply for the job let the person one who intervies the candidate should decide the candidate has the real kinowledge
to work as a doctor. In case he fails in the interview he will not get a job. Why the goverment burden the foreign return students with mci screening test. After six years of hard work instead of dreaming to get a good job etc. they have to frightfully wait for MCI exam.
What have these foreign return students did to get this punishment. Indian goverment did not give them a chance to study in India. But when they received a degree in foreign countries with
their hard work and hard earned money why you are so much hostile to these students.
Anna on May 6th, 2010
Mr. Kapil sibal is very much keen on reforming the education system. Whjy he is not taking any step with regard to the students studying for medicine in foreign countries. They also go through depression. After 6 years of hard work
instead of welcom,ing back to them to India the
government is keeping the rope ready (rope in the form of MCI) to hang themselves. Mr. Sibal please do some thing for the students who are returning to India. please scrap the MCI. Let them work proudly in India instead of leaving the country. So many good students are leaving the country because of MCI screening test in other words MCI failing test.
rajsachar on May 14th, 2010
With the impending dissolution of the MCI the dark and evil days of medical education in India will be over.
Prof R K Sachar FAMS
navneetthakur.thakur@gmail.com on April 19th, 2011
time haschanged its very tough to study in foreign country.here u av to study hard,here we av in india.no time for walk.we work hard,,if u will not study u av to back home. i believe that we study here much than any student so why we av to pass mci?we r very carefull aur carrier. so please help us.we r also want to serve our country we r also humen. please understand us. Navneet thakur from russia
sanjaydewal79 on January 22nd, 2010
If I remember correctly, PM had opened a special dedicated cell in PMO under the charge of a Deputy Secretary only to look into corruption of MCI after reports were published and PMO through letters was apprised of the same. What has happened to that cell? Are there not sufficient proof to to scrap the MCI? If the fear is that the ‘new body’ so formed may indulge in the similar activities, then simple thing would be to amend the Act in a way that no one who has been a member for even once or even for a day will be allowed to become a member of this body again-electronic information can be exploited and used to its fullest to keep track of this kind of repeat membership. Moreover, besides doctors the body must have people from public life, civil services, judiciary, common man, political representative- the term of tenure should be 3 or 4 years because if it is more the groups are likely to form and likely to exploit situation to their vested interests and like it is now. The decision making body should have people like that of Prof Yash Pal, Prof Alag, Dr Pachauri, Dr Sam Pitroda and not like the ones currently who are practically anaesthetised during meetings while taking decisions-some of the current members donot even know which agenda item is under discussion? Not only this after few items have been taken up, some come back and start commenting and putting up their views on items which have long been decided- such are the persons most suitable to the current management since the management can do whatever pleases them. I suggest PMO under the able guidance of the PM wake up and take up the proposal seriously, leaving aside any vested considerations. I feel it is high time the PMO give a serious thought to revoke the special cell to cater for the needs of masses and not a select few. The energy needs to be rationally used by not getting carried away.