Boards of doctors governing MCI to continue for another year

Updated on: Friday, March 18, 2011

The term of the existing Board of doctors governing the Medical Council of India was today extended by an year.
The extension was given at a meeting of the Union Cabinet held here.

The six-member body which has replaced the erstwhile MCI consists of eminent doctors like Devi Shetty, Sita Naik and is headed by Dr S K Sarin.

The government had decided to bring in an ordinance to replace the MCI with the board after a crisis hit the regulatory body after its president Ketan Desai was arrested April 22 last year by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs two crore to recognise a medical college in Punjab though it did not meet MCI standards.

The MCI, a statutory body, tasked to oversee the standards of medical education in India, grants recognition to medical degrees, gives accreditation to medical colleges, registers medical practitioners and monitors medical practice in the country.

In the aftermath of Desai's resignation and setting up of the board, the government had amended the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, to inserted Article 3 (a) through an ordinance that authorises the government to intervene in matters of "national policy".

In case of a dispute over "national policy," the view of the government will prevail.

Boards of doctors governing MCI to continue for another year

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