Gujarat doctors to join nationwide strike against NMC Bill 2019

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced one-day strike on Wednesday in solidarity with the nationwide protest against NMC Bill 2019.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019 was passed in Lok Sabha on Monday after it was proposed by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan to replace the existing Medical Council of India (MCI). The IMA officials have termed the bill ‘draconian’ and accused the government of ‘dumping healthcare and medical education into darkness’ in a press release.

Dr SS Vaishya, president of Gujarat chapter of IMA, told TOI that the association has 26,000 doctors in Gujarat who will support the one-day strike commencing from 6 am on Wednesday. “The Bill which has been passed in Lok Sabha is against the spirit of the profession and we will create awareness about its flip side among citizens,” he said.

Dr Vaishya added that the emergency services would not be affected by the strike.

As per IMA officials, the NMC Bill has provision of licensing 3.5 lakh unqualified non-medical persons to practice modern medicine. The term ‘community health provider’ has been defined vaguely and it can lead to practice of ‘quackery.’ IMA in the nationwide call has asked the government to revoke the Bill.