Indian Medical Association calls for one-day strike

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a one-day strike against National Medical Commission (NMC) bill on Tuesday.

National Medical Commission bill introduced in Lok Sabha recently will replace the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body. The bill is aimed at ensuring transparency and to bring reforms in medical education sector.

The bill also seeks to allow practitioners of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy, to practice modern medicine once they complete a short-term "bridge" course.

On Sunday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that bill has many problematic provisions and urged the central government not to pass the bill in hurry and said that waiting for a few months to pass the bill won't be disastrous for the country.

He also demanded that it should be referred to a parliamentary standing committee. 

Clause 49 of the bills also demands a joint sitting of National Medical Commission, the Central Council Indian Medicine at least once a year in order to enhance the interface between homeopathy, Indian Systems of Medicine and modern systems of medicine.

(With inputs from ANI)