National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, 2019

Source: PIB & PRS India

The Bill seeks to repeal the Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and provide for a medical education system which ensures availability of adequate and high quality homoeopathic medical professionals, adoption of the latest medical research by homoeopathic medical professionals, periodic assessment of medical institutions, and an effective grievance redressal mechanism.  

Background:

The Homoeopathy Central Council (HCC) Act, 1973 was enacted for the constitution of a Central Council of Homoeopathy for the regulation of education and practice of Homoeopathy, for maintenance of Central Register of Homoeopathy and for matters connected therewith.  This Act has been modelled on the pattern of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. 

Features of the bill

• Constitution of the National Commission for Homoeopathy: The proposed Bill sets up the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH).   
• Composition of the commission: The NCH will consist of 20 members, appointed by the central government.  A Search Committee will recommend names to the central government for the post of Chairperson, part-time members, and presidents of the three autonomous boards set up under the NCH.  These posts will have a maximum term of four years.  The Search Committee will consist 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). Members of the NCH will include: 

• 1. The Chairperson
  2. The President of the Homoeopathy Education Board
  3. The President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Homoeopathy
  4. The Director-General, National Institute of Homoeopathy
  5. Advisor or Joint Secretary in-charge of Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, and 
  6. Four members (part-time) to be elected by the registered homoeopathic medical practitioners from amongst themselves from the prescribed regional constituencies under the Bill. 
• State Medical Councils for Homoeopathy: Within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will establish State Medical Councils for Homoeopathy at the state level 
• Functions of the National Commission for Homoeopathy: 
  1. Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and homoeopathic medical professionals
  2. Assessing the requirements of healthcare-related human resources and infrastructure, 
  3. Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of Homoeopathy of the regulations made under the Bill, and 
  4. Ensuring coordination among the autonomous boards set up under the Bill. 
• Autonomous boards to be set up under NCH: The Bill sets up certain autonomous boards under the supervision of the NCH.  These boards are: 
  1. The Homoeopathy Education Board:  It will be responsible for formulating standards, curriculum, guidelines for setting up of medical institutions, and granting recognition to medical qualifications at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels respectively
  2. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Homoeopathy:  It determines the process of rating and assessment of medical institutions and have the power to levy monetary penalties on institutions which fail to maintain the minimum standards  It will also grant permission for establishing a new medical institution, and
  3. The Board of Ethics and Medical Registration for Homoeopathy:  It will maintain a National Register of all licensed homoeopathic medical practitioners, and regulate their professional conduct.  Only those medical practitioners included in the Register will be allowed to practice homoeopathic medicine. 
• Advisory Council for Homoeopathy: Under the Bill, the central government will constitute an Advisory Council for Homoeopathy.  The Council will be the primary platform through which the states/union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the NCH.  Further, the Council will advise the NCH on measures to determine and maintain minimum standards of medical education. 
• National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test: There will be a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate homoeopathy education in all medical institutions regulated by the Bill.  The NCH will specify the manner of conducting common counselling for admission in all such medical institutions. Further, there will be a uniform Post-Graduate National Entrance Test which will serve as the basis for admission into post-graduate courses at medical institutions.
• National Exit Test: The Bill proposes a common final year National Exit Test for the students graduating from medical institutions to obtain the license for the practice.   
• National Teachers’ Eligibility Test: The Bill also proposes a National Teachers’ Eligibility Test for postgraduates of homoeopathy who wish to take up teaching homoeopathy as a profession.
• Appeal on matters related to professional and ethical misconduct: State Medical Councils will receive complaints relating to professional or ethical misconduct against a registered homoeopathic medical practitioner.  If the medical practitioner is aggrieved of a decision of the State Medical Council, he may appeal to the Board of Ethics and Medical Registration for Homoeopathy.  The State Medical Councils and the Board of Ethics and Medical Registration for Homoeopathy have the power to take disciplinary action against the medical practitioner including imposing a monetary penalty.  If the medical practitioner is aggrieved of the decision of the Board, he can approach the NCH to appeal against the decision. The appeal of the decision of the NCH lies with the central government.