Doctors call off stir after govt sends NMC bill to parliamentary standing panel

Bowing to the Opposition's demand, the Centre on Tuesday agreed to send the controversial National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, to a panel of parliamentarians for one more round of scrutiny.

The bill that seeks to replace the corruption-ridden Medical Council of India with a new body, triggered strong protests from doctors who gave a call for a nationwide strike between 6 am to 6 pm on Tuesday.

The call was withdrawn soon after the Lok Sabha sent the bill to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

Reading out a statement in the Lower House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar



said several political parties, including those from the Opposition and the ruling NDA, wanted the bill to be sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health for review and that the government acceded to their demand.

The minister, however, requested Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to ask the committee to submit its report before the budget session, which is expected to start by January end, so that a new law can be brought out at the earliest, following an order of the Supreme Court and a standing committee report.

Sumitra said the standing committee report should be tabled before the budget session.