Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) The National Council for Human Resource in Health (NCHRH) Bill - aiming to set up an agency to regulate health education in the country - is likely to be tabled in the monsoon session of parliament, a health ministry official said Wednesday.
“The bill is likely to be tabled in the monsoon session,” the official told IANS. “It was to be brought much earlier. However, it will now be tabled in the coming session.”

This comes a day after the health ministry openly opposed the inclusion of medical education in the National Council for Higher Education and Research (NCHER), which will be an overarching body under the Human Resource Development ministry to oversee higher education in the country.

Once created, the NCHRH will overtake the functions of all councils overseeing health education, including the Pharmacy Council, Dental Council, Nursing Council, and Rehabilitation Council besides the already dissolved Medical Council of India.

Currently a six-member panel headed by eminent gastro-enterologist S.K. Sarin has been appointed to oversee the work of MCI for one year.

The formation of NCHRH was announced in the president’s speech to the joint session of parliament last year. It was also included in the 100-day agenda of the health ministry.

A 15-member task force headed by then health secretary Naresh Dayal also came up with a draft which was circulated to the state governments for comment.

“The draft has been circulated to state governments and we have received a response from 13 states so far,” the official said.

Coming out against the inclusion of medical education under NCHER, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Health Secretary Sujatha Rao Tuesday said the ministry will continue the regulation of medical education through the proposed NCHRH.