Parliament Passes Bills For Establishing National Commissions For Homoeopathy, Indian Systems Of Medicine [Read Bills]

1. The National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019; and
2. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019.

Both the Bills were passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 19, 2020, during this year's Budget Session.

In this session, i.e. the Monsoon Session, both the houses shall function for only 4 hours a day (due to the Pandemic). Thus, both the aforesaid bills were discussed and passed within half an hour, citing paucity of time.

During this short discussion, 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 the two Commissions. However, the government Bill stipulates that all appeals will lie before the Central government.

TMC's Pratima Mondal also opposed the Bill as it does not entail provisions for examination or training for existing teachers. She further pointed out that the Bill did not offer any transparency as members of the proposed National Commissions shall be nominated by the Central Government. She suggested that members should be elected from various States.

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 that the Bills had provisions for Joint Sittings of both the Commissions with the National Commission for Yoga and Naturopathy and National Medical Commission. He also assured the members that a separate bill will be brought in for yoga and naturopathy.

The Bill will now be presented before the President for his assent.

National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019

This Bill seeks to repeal the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and to set up a National Commission for Homoeopathy.

Constitution of Commission

The Commission will consist of 20 members, including (i) the Chairperson, (ii) the President of the Homoeopathy Education Board, (iii) the President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Homoeopathy, (iv) the Director General, National Institute of Homoeopathy, (v) Advisor or Joint Secretary in-charge of Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, and (vi) four members (part-time) to be elected by the registered homoeopathic medical practitioners from amongst themselves from the prescribed regional constituencies under the Bill.

The non-elected members will be appointed by the central government, based on a recommendation made by a Search Committee of six members, including the Cabinet Secretary and three experts nominated by the central government (of which two will have experience in the homoeopathic field).

Functions of the Commission

It is proposed that the Commission, inter alia, will frame policies for regulating 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 Homoeopathy.

Advisory Council for Homoeopathy

The Bill also proposes the constitution of an Advisory Council for Homoeopathy, by the central government. The Council will be the primary platform through which the states/union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the Commission. Further, the Council will advise the NCH on measures to determine and maintain minimum standards of medical education.

Entrance examinations

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 of homoeopathy 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. which will serve as the basis for admission into post-graduate courses at medical institutions.

National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill

This Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and set up a National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.

Constitution of Commission

The Commission will consist of 29 members, including (i) the Chairperson, (ii) the President of the Board of Ayurveda, (iii) the President of the Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa, (iv) the President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine, (v) Advisor or Joint Secretary in-charge of Ayurveda, Ministry of AYUSH, and (vi) three members (part-time) to be elected by the registered medical practitioners of Ayurveda, and one member each by the respective registered medical practitioners of Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa from amongst themselves from the prescribed regional constituencies under the Bill.

The non-elected members will be appointed by the central government, based on a recommendation made by a Search Committee of five members, including the Cabinet Secretary and three experts nominated by the central government (of which two should have experience in any of the fields of Indian System of Medicine).

Functions of the Commission

It is proposed that the Commission, inter alia, will frame policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine, 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 Indian System of Medicine.

Advisory Council for Indian System of Medicine

The Bill also proposes the constitution of an Advisory Council for Indian System of Medicine, by the central government. The Council will be the primary platform through which the states/union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the Commission. Further, the Council will advise the NCISM on measures to determine and maintain minimum standards of medical education.

Entrance examinations

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 disciplines 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.

Click Here To Download National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill

Click Here To Download National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill