New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday said the newly constituted panel replacing the dissolved Medical Council of India (MCI) will have full control over its decisions without any interference from the government.
‘The six-member panel which replaced the MCI will be an autonomous body with double powers. It will include the powers of MCI and also that of the health ministry,’ Azad said after a meeting with four of the six members of the interim committee.
The panel, headed by eminent gastroenterologist S.K. Sarin, was formed after the MCI was plunged into crisis following the arrest of its president Ketan Desai on graft charges. Desai later resigned.
The panel, which will have a one-year term, will be responsible for granting recognition to medical colleges, registering medical practitioners, giving recognition to medical degrees and monitoring medical practices in the country.
Explaining the absolute powers of the new panel, Azad said, ‘No recommendations from the (health) ministry will be sent to them as used to happen earlier when the ministry had a final say. Now the panel’s decision will be considered final.’
‘If an aggrieved party is not satisfied with their decision, the new panel will have a re-look into it and give a go-ahead,’ he added.
Earlier, any grievances or reconsiderations sought could be forwarded to the health ministry. In the present set-up, however, the panel will have the final say on all matters.
Azad added that he has stressed on ensuring transparency in the practices of the panel.
‘I have told them that you are living in a glass house and transparency should be maintained,’ he said.
The meeting was attended by Health Secretary Sujatha Rao along with four panel members including Sarin, Ranjit Roy Chowdhary, Gautam Sen and Devi Shetty. The other two members, R. L. Salhan and Sita Naik, were not present in the meeting.
