The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy – or Ayush – is mulling over making an exit exam mandatory for medical graduates looking to get a licence to practise Indian medicine systems, including Ayurveda.
WHAT DOES THE BILL SAY
The bill, known as the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, was proposed by a NITI Aayog-led panel.
The draft bill is being modelled on the lines of the Health Ministry’s National Medical Commission Bill. It also aims to create a new regulatory body, Ayush Secretary Rajesh Kotecha. At present, two statutory bodies – the Central Council of Homoeopathy and the Central Council of Indian Medicine – govern higher education in homoeopathy and other indigenous systems of medicine.
WHAT NEXT
The Ayush National Teachers Eligibility Test will bring in quality teachers, Kotecha added. “A unique verification code for such teachers shall be allotted by Central Council of Homoeopathy or the Central Council of Indian Medicine before their appointment.”
THE ELIGIBILITY
Students who want to get into Ayush’s undergraduate courses in the next academic session would have to clear the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. However, Kotecha said that the ministry might ultimately opt for a separate entrance examination. For all system of AYUSH, minimum 50 % marks have to be obtained by the candidates to be eligible for admission in under-graduate courses.
The draft National Medical Commission Bill which seeks to replace the existing apex medical education regulator Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body also calls for a licentiate exam which all medical graduates will have to clear to get practicing licences.
