Submission of PCHA members on the NMC Bill

1. 10 102, Siddhivinayak, Plot 3, Sec 14, Khanda , New Panvel , Mumbai 410206. MH. India. | www.pchalliance.org
Date: February 19, 2018
To,
Shri. Dinesh Singh,
Additional Director
Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare
Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi 110001
Reference: R.S.5/1/2018-Com (H&FW) dated 09th
Feb, 2018 w.r.t NMC Bill
Dear Sir,
This is in response to the note received from your office with the above quoted reference, and
we deeply appreciate the opportunity that the Parliamentary Standing Committee members
have given us for sharing our views on the ‘National Medical Commission bill, 2017’
About PCHAlliance: PCHAlliance aims to make health and wellness an effortless part of daily
life. The PCHAlliance, a non-profit organization formed by HIMSS, believes that health is
personal and extends beyond healthcare. The PCHAlliance mobilizes a coalition of stakeholders
to realize the full potential of personal connected health. PCHAlliance members are a vibrant
ecosystem of technology and life sciences industry icons, and innovative early stage companies,
along with government, academic institutions, and associations from around the world.
We wish to submit the following to the committee for their perusal and kind consideration:
A. Bill introduction - “to provide for a medical education system that ensures availability of
adequate, tech savvy and high quality medical professionals; that encourages medical
professionals to adopt latest medical research and digital tools in their work….”: It is
suggested that the words –’tech savvy’ & ‘digital tools’ be added in this sentence and at
other places in the bill as deemed appropriate. Please do ensure that the importance of
digital tools and technology in medical education is duly recognized and acknowledged, as
without it being included in the medical education, the product of the medical education
system (doctors) will not be conversant with technology and will resist from adopting
technology in practice. Hence, we suggest that this be included in the introduction and in
the bill at an appropriate place/ places.
B. Chapter II: In the constitution of the NMC as a body, it is suggested that six zones (North,
East, South, West, Central and North-East) be represented in the NMC, to ensure that the
regional needs and aspirations are addressed.
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2. 10 102, Siddhivinayak, Plot 3, Sec 14, Khanda , New Panvel , Mumbai 410206. MH. India. | www.pchalliance.org
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Also, it may please be ensured that states are represented in rotation within each such
zone. This should also apply to point 54 (l) 2 (a) on page 21.
C. 5(I) (e) page 4: Rather that asking for 25 years’ experience in the field, we must keep it as a
decade of experience so as to bring a fresh perspective in our approach. Asking for not less
than 25 years of experience, in our view, would be not in sync with the vision of our Hon’ble
PM to create a ‘New India’.
D. Students representation in NMC: both UG & PG students should be included in the NMC
Advisory board as this body is dealing with their education. It may appropriate to include
doctors at the PHC in rural areas on this body. So that the ground level reality is discussed
and addressed at the NMC. PHC is the foundation of our public healthcare system
E. Also, members should not be chosen just from the states but, a minimum of 25 % of the
NMC and advisory board members should be represented by rural, tribal and backward
population in states
F. Chapter III – Medical Advisory Council: This must have representation from the Nursing
Council, Pharmacy Council and allied professional councils
G. Meetings: Page 8 point 13 (I) Meeting frequency – Meeting once a year is inadequate. It
should be done at least four times a year
H. Point 27 (l): National register should be maintained, not just for all licensed practitioners
but, we must have a clear distinction between who is still into clinical practices, and those
who are now out of practice OR in non-clinical roles. This will help policy makers and
planners in realistic assessment of available resources for healthcare delivery
I. Permission for establishment of new medical college (page 12): For rural, tribal areas and
backward states, please ensure a mechanism akin to automatic approval for setting up a
medical college and also, please rationalize the norms without compromising the quality of
academics and practical training. We need more medical colleges in rural, tribal and
backward areas (110 most back ward districts). Only then, we will have doctors who might
be willing to work in rural, tribal and backward areas
J. National and state register point 31 (l): It is time to do away with the state register. We
must only have one national registry and any doctor should be able to practice in any part
of the country. Else, legally, a doctor in Tamil Nadu will not be able to give advice to a
patient in remote Uttar Pradesh, using technology or otherwise. This must change now.
Also, given the proliferation of technology and digital health (mobile health, e-health and
telemedicine), this would be the right and timely step towards achieving the vision of
‘Digital India’
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3. 10 102, Siddhivinayak, Plot 3, Sec 14, Khanda , New Panvel , Mumbai 410206. MH. India. | www.pchalliance.org
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K. 49(l). Joint sitting of various councils is a good step. But the clause 49, on page 32; “the
joint sitting may reside on approving educational modules to develop bridges across the
various systems of medicines and promote medical pluralism” needs a review. The goal
should be integrative medicine and not a bridge course for cross-pathy as it will make the
Indian system subservient to allopathy. Time to utilize the strengths of each system and
initiate a multi-disciplinary and integrated course. Hence the point 49(l), 54(l) 35 (o) be re-
looked at and amended appropriately.
Also, our key members would like to come and present our views on various aspects of
healthcare before the committee.
Should the committee need any further details or clarification, we would be happy to address
the same.
With best regards
Rajendra Pratap Gupta
Hony. Chairman
For and on behalf of the Personal Connected Health Alliance
Cell: +91 9 22 33 44 303
Ms. Mevish P. Vaishnav, National Coordinator: 8123618929
E: office.rajendra@gmail.com / Mevish@dmai.org.in