National Medical Commission Set to Replace Medical Council of India after Gorakhpur Episode: A Case for Quality Assurance

Non-medicos (scientists) joining the national medical commission (NMC) is likely to facilitate scientific advancement in medical practice in India by propelling indigenous research. This is likely to result in affordable tests and therapies, as doctors in India are unfortunately not trained for research unlike those in West (as curriculum of MBBS, MD/MCh, DM, etc., does not include basic research syllabus). This bill was likely to be tabled in Monsoon session on Indian Parliament but this case for quality assurance appears to have been delayed. This will impact expansion of genetic testing services nationwide whose revenue would have been re-invested in training of medical graduates and generation of genetic database for cure of genetic disorders. The adoption of NMC will accelerate translational research and improve the provision for integrated health care which may provide solutions of incurable disorders as well as innovative means to address Gorapkhpur like episodes. Further, inclusion of Ayurveda, Yoga, and other alternative medical approaches in health care delivery will reduce patient rush and generate comparative data between modern medicine and alternative medicine, thus paving the way for regulation of costs of healthcare and save the precious lives