2 health Bills passed without debate in LS
Context
Without debate, the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill of 2023 and the National Dental Commission Bill of 2023 were both passed by the Lok Sabha on Friday despite protests from the opposition.
What is the role of the Indian Nursing Council (INC)?
- National Regulatory Body: The Indian Nursing Council (INC) is a national regulatory body in India that oversees and regulates nursing education and nursing practice throughout the country.
- Autonomous Body: The INC operates as an autonomous body, which means it has a degree of independence from the central government in its functioning and decision-making processes.
- Under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: Although it is autonomous, the INC operates under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which is a part of the Government of India. This allows for coordination and collaboration with the government on healthcare-related matters.
- Enacted By Parliament: The Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, an Act enacted by the Indian Parliament, served as the legal foundation for the INC. The council is given regulatory authority by this law, and it also specifies the range of its duties.
- Uniformity: The Indian Nursing Council’s primary responsibility, according to the original act, is to “ensure uniformity in nursing education.” This indicates that the INC seeks to standardize and establish consistency in nursing education throughout all nursing institutions and schools in the nation.
- Setting Standards: The council is in charge of establishing the requirements for programs in nursing education. These criteria encompass a variety of facets of nursing education, including the curriculum, the environment, the qualifications of the faculty, and clinical instruction.
What are the functions of the Indian Nursing Council (INC)?
- Nursing qualifications are recognized in India.
- Providing any nursing credential: provides certification in public health nursing, general nursing, midwifery, or health visiting.
- The Council may negotiate a scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of nursing qualifications with any authority [in any territory of India to which this Act does not extend or foreign country] that is mandated by the law of such territory or country with maintaining a register of nurses, midwives, or health visitors.
- The Indian Nursing Council has the authority to demand details about study programs, training, and examinations.
- Exams are held to award any recognized qualification or recognized higher degree in India, and to inspect any institution recognized as a training institution.
- Withdrawal of recognition: If an institution accredited by a State Council for the training of nurses, midwives, or health visitors does not meet the council’s requirements, the council may withdraw its recognition.
- To carry out the requirements of this Act, in particular and without limiting the scope of the aforementioned authorities, the Council may enact regulations that are not in conflict with the Indian Nursing Council Act in general.
What are the new bills passed in the health sector?
National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023:
- Repeal of the Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947: The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) is intended to take the place of the Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947, which is currently in effect.
- Regulation and Standards: The NNMC will be in charge of establishing and upholding national standards for the training and services rendered by nursing and midwifery practitioners.
- Assessment of Institutions: The proposed legislation calls for evaluating the compliance of nursing and midwifery educational institutions.
- Establishment of Registers: To assist in locating and confirming competent practitioners, the NNMC will maintain national and state registers of nursing and midwifery professionals.
- Enhancing Access: The Bill intends to establish a system that improves public access to nursing and midwifery services, increasing healthcare accessibility.
- Research and Development: The NNMC will encourage breakthroughs and innovation in the nursing and midwifery professions by promoting research and development in those fields.
- Adoption of Scientific Advances: The Bill places a strong emphasis on the use of the most recent scientific developments in nursing and midwifery practice to raise the standard of healthcare.
- Current Nursing Staff: Up to 2022, 33.41 lakh nursing professionals were registered in India, according to information kept by the Indian Nursing Council.
National Dental Commission Bill, 2023:
- Repeal of the Dentists Act of 1948: The National Dental Commission is to be established in its place as a result of the Bill.
- Dental Profession Regulation: The National Dental Commission will be in charge of regulating the dental profession in the nation.
- Dental Education of the Highest Quality and Lowest Cost: The Bill aims to guarantee that aspiring dentists receive dental education of the highest quality and lowest cost.
- Oral healthcare accessibility: The National Dental Commission will endeavour to increase public access to high-quality oral healthcare services.
- Dentists Currently Registered: According to government statistics, India had over 2.89 lakh dentists presently registered.
