What the National Medical Commission’s new guidelines say on admissions and quota for disabled people

What the National Medical Commission’s new guidelines say on admissions and quota for disabled people

Subject :Schemes

Context: The panel was set up after the Delhi High Court, earlier this year, directed the NMC to explore the possibility of candidates with disability pursuing some disciplines, if not all, of medical education

The new guidelines under development by the National Medical Commission (NMC):

• The recommendations of a 16-member expert panel range from a “progressive outlook” for those with mental illness — suggesting that anyone who can complete all course requirements be allowed to study medicine — to “extremely restrictive” requirements for locomotor disabilities, suggesting wheelchair-bound people or those using two crutches be disqualified.
• Much of the recommendations do not talk of advancements in assistive devices or treatments.
• Although some recommendations do make a mention of specific assistive devices such as cochlear implants for hearing impairment and telescopes and magnifiers for visual impairment
• The existing guidelines say that anyone with more than 40% disability will be eligible for medical course and quota if their disability can be brought below the 40% mark with aids.
• the panel recommended that everyone should be allowed to pursue a medical course, and those with disability of more than 40% be allowed to compete for the 5% seats under the quota for persons with disabilities
• These recommendations are in line with disability guidelines that are followed in countries such as the UK
• When it comes to locomotor disabilities — disability of bones, joints or muscles that restrict the movement of limbs — the committee suggested removing the 80% disability cap for those who are allowed to pursue medical education, without really doing away with it.
• It suggested that students will be allowed to pursue medical education if they are able to “perform activities and tasks involving sitting, standing, pulling, pushing, kneeling, crouching, lifting, bending, walking, and manipulation of fingers with dexterity
• The guidelines also say that students dependent on wheelchairs and crutches will not be allowed to pursue medical education

National Medical Commission:

• NMC will subsume the Medical Council of Indiaand will regulate medical education and practice in India.
• Functions of the NMC include: (i) laying down policies for regulating medical institutionsand medical professionals, (ii) assessing the requirements of human resources and infrastructure in healthcare, (iii) ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils with the regulations made under the Bill, and (iv) framing guidelines for determination of fee for up to 50% of the seats in the private medical institutions.
• The NMC will consist of 25 members, including: (i) Director Generals of the Directorate General of Health Services and the Indian Council of Medical Research, (ii) Director of any of the AIIMS, (iii) five members (part-time) to be elected by the registered medical practitioners, and (iv) six members appointed on rotational basis from amongst the nominees of the states in the Medical Advisory Council.
• Four autonomous boards were set up under the supervision of the NMC.  Each board will consist of a President and four members (of which two members will be part-time), appointed by the central government (on the recommendation of a search committee).
• These bodies are:
  • The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB):These two bodies will be responsible for formulating standards, curriculum, guidelines for medical education, and granting recognition to medical qualifications at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels respectively.
  • The Medical Assessment and Rating Board: The Board will have the power to levy monetary penalties on institutions which fail to maintain the minimum standards as laid down by the UGMEB and the PGMEB.  It will also grant permissions for establishing new medical colleges, starting postgraduate courses, and increasing the number of seats in a medical college.
  • The Ethics and Medical Registration Board: This Board will maintain a National Register of all the licensed medical practitioners in the country, and also regulate professional and medical conduct.  Only those included in the Register will be allowed to practice as doctors.  The Board will also maintain a register of all licensed community health providers in the country.

Additional info:

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The Act replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

It fulfills the obligations to the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory

Disabilities covered

• Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
• The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 and the Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities. The 21 disabilities are given below:-

1. Physical Disability
   • Locomotor Disability
     • Leprosy Cured Person
     • Cerebral Palsy
     • Dwarfism
     • Muscular Dystrophy
     • Acid Attack Victims
   • Visual Impairment
     • Blindness
     • Low Vission
   • Hearing Impairment
     • Deaf
     • Hard of Hearing
   • Speech and Language Disability
2. Intellectual Disability
   • Specific Learning Disabilities
   • Autism Spectrum Disorder
3. Mental Behaviour (Mental Illness)
4. Disability caused due to-
   • Chronic Neurological Conditions such as
     • Multiple Sclerosis
     • Parkinson’s Disease
   • Blood Disorder
     • Haemophilia
     • Thalassemia
     • Sickle Cell Disease

5. Multiple Disabilities

• Persons with “benchmark disabilities” are defined as those certified to have at least 40 per cent of the disabilities specified above.