Table 2

Medical Council of India and National Medical Commission: major differences in governance and responsibilities

Medical Council of India (MCI)*National Medical Commission (NMC)†
GOVERNANCE
Composition

  • Council of members headed by president

  • President and vice-president elected by the council of members

  • Most of the members from medical fraternity

  • Representation from each state, each state medical council and medical faculties of all universities

  • Eight members nominated by the central government directly

  • Seven members elected by medical doctors


Organisation

  • Executive committee headed by president with 7–10 members elected by council members

  • Subcommittees of undergraduate committee, postgraduate committee and other committee constituted from time to time

 GOVERNANCE
 Composition

  •  Commission headed by chairperson appointed by the central government from among medical person of eminence

  •  10 ex officio members including head of four subcommittees of NMC and others nominated by central government

  •  22 part-time members—10 members from among nominees of state governments, 19 members from states and 3 from other relevant fields such as law and ethics

  •  Secretary of Central Ministry of Health to be convenor-member


 Organisation

  •  The National Medical Commission

  •  The Medical Advisory Council—headed by the chairperson of NMC and includes members nominated by the state governments and universities

  •  Autonomous boards—appointed by central government and function under the aegis of NMC. These are:

  •  The undergraduate medical education board

  •  The postgraduate medical education board

  •  The medical assessment and rating board

  •  The ethics and medical registration board

 RESPONSIBILITIES

  •  Recognition of medical qualification

  •  Curriculum design and regulation

  •  Standard of examination for awarding medical degrees

  •  Recognition of medical colleges and medical courses by ensuring minimum standard

  •  Licensing of qualified medical professionals and maintaining registry

  •  Disqualification of medical professional in case of professional misconduct

    •  Protecting the rights of registered medical professionals

 RESPONSIBILITIES

  •  Examination—common national entrance and exit examination test for UG and PG medical courses

  •  Setting and maintaining the standard of medical education

  •  Rating of medical institutions based on defined minimum standards

  •  Maintain national registry of medical professionals

  •  Regulate professional conduct and promote medical ethics

  •  Recognition of medical colleges and medical courses by ensuring minimum standard

  •  Licensing of a cadre of community health provider (CHP)

  •  Ensuring rights and obligations of registered medical professionals

  •  Recognition of postgraduate medical degree awarded by the Diplomate of National Board

  • *The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956

  • †The National Medical Commission Act, 2019

  • CHP, Community Health Provider; MCI, Medical Council of India; NMC, National Medical Commission; PG, postgraduate; UG, undergraduate.