A number of amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill have been recently approved by the Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister . The amendments in the NMC Bill were made with an attempt toward addressing the dismal doctor: patient ratio of 1:1,600 in India, as against 1:1,000 as mandated by WHO (World Health Organisation).
Accordingly, the Department Related parliament standing Committee submitted a report on 20th March, recommended giving limited drug prescription rights to nursing practitioners or pharmacists instead of AYUSH experts, and a new provision got drafted in the bill to grant a limited license to practice medicine to non-MBBS medical practitioners, known as 'mid-level medical practitioners'. The amended provision recently cleared the cabinet hurdle and will now be part of the official amendments the government will move to the NMC Bill in the next session…
