Doctors' body stages black badge protest, seeks amendment to MCI rules

CHENNAI: Members of Government All Doctors’ Association and Doctors’ Association for Social Equality staged black badge demonstration at Stanley Medical College and Hospital on Thursday demanding amendments to the Medical Council of India rules.

The medicos demanded a provision of 50 per cent reservation for government doctors in PG and super speciality medical courses, after the apex court and the Medical Council of India denied the proposal for the same.

“The rules and regulations by Medical Council of India for PG medical admission need to be amended, providing separate reservation to government doctors in PG and super speciality medical course. If these issues are not considered, the underprivileged section of the society will be affected that largely depends on the government hospitals for medical services,” said Dr G. Ravindranath, secretary, Doctors' Association for Social Equality.

Doctors continued their agitation against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill and demanded the withdrawal of the bill.

NMC proposes to conduct an entrance test for MBBS students after graduation to avail practising license. However, doctors said that these rules should be amended. “National Legal Medicine Evaluation tests for medical practitioners should not be introduced. We also oppose the replacement of Medical Council of India by ex-officio government members,” said S. Arvind, member, Government All Doctors’ Association.

The National Medical Commission is proposed to have a panel of five elected and 12 ex-officio consisting of a government-nominated chairman and members, while a committee under the Cabinet Secretary will select the board members.

However, medicos are demanding the formation of a panel as under the existing structure of MCI that has only medical doctors as council members.