Academic resolutions should not be subject to union Govt's consent: MCI

Chennai: Chairman Academic Committee, Medical Council of India, Mr. Ved Prakash Mishra has urged upon an amendment being made to the Medical Council Act, Section 33 so that no prior approval is called for from the Union government on notifications related to academic resolutions.

Mr Mishra, who was delivering the keynote address at the National Conference on 'Changing Trends in Health Professions Education' at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth here on Friday, expressed reservations about prior approvals of the union government for academic resolutions.

Mr. Mishra said that prior government approval in matters related to administration and policy regulations may be justified, but should not be the case for academic resolutions.

Mishra was of the opinion that an amendment to Section 33, should be brought about for speedier implementation of academic regulations, as well as their notifications.

“There should be a national curriculum in the current context of globalisation. We should structure and ensure that the national needs and national perspective should gain importance,” he said.

Going back to guidelines set by the first National Education Commission, the chairman stressed upon the need of a national curriculum. He highlighted the absence of a powerful body for accreditation of medical educational institutions, as in place for technical institutions. The Indian Medical Council Act, he said merely gave recognition to medical institutions.

He also spoke about medical education not falling in the purview of the University Grants Commission Act, for sanctioning of grants. He expressed the need for creation of an authoritative body for granting accreditation to medical institutions. This he said would bring about uniformity in higher education and also in the sanctioning of grants. He stressed upon the need of all legislation being directed towards higher education particularly in medical institutions. Speaking about the drawbacks of the National Medical Commission Bill, the chairman pointed at the fact that all its five objectives merely substituted the Medical Council Of India’s objectives.