Salient features of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 are as follows:
- The act sets up the National Medical Commission (NMC). Within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will establish State Medical Councils at the state level. The NMC will consist of 25 members, appointed by the central government.
- Functions of the NMC include:
- framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals,
- assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure,
- ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of the regulations made under the Bill,
- framing guidelines for determination of fees for up to 50% of the seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities which are regulated under the Bill.
The central government will constitute a Medical Advisory Council. The Council will be the primary platform through which the states/union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the NMC.
- the NMC may grant a limited license to certain mid-level practitioners connected with the modern medical profession to practice medicine.
- There will be a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate and post-graduate super-speciality medical education in all medical institutions regulated under the Act.
- The Act proposes a common final year undergraduate examination called the National Exit Test for the students graduating from medical institutions to obtain the license for practice. This test will also serve as the basis for admission into post-graduate courses at medical institutions under this Act