Putting into effect what it described as "historic reforms" in the field of medical education, the Indian government has set up the National Medical Commission (NMC) along with four other autonomous boards while abolishing the MCI.  The reforms are aimed to steer the country's medical education towards a transparent, qualitative and accountable system. The basic change is that the regulator is now 'selected' on merit, as opposed to an 'elected' regulator.

The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education Boards, Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and Ethics and Medical Registration Board have been constituted to help the NMC in day-to-day functioning. The four boards come into existence with effect from Friday. The decades-old Medical Council of India (MCI) stands abolished.

Men and Women with impeccable integrity, professionalism, experience, and stature have now been placed at the helm to steer the medical education reforms further. 

The NMC's key functions include streamlining of regulations, ratings of institutions, HR assessment, and focus on research.

Besides, it will work on the modalities of a common final-year exam after MBBS (NEXT- National Exit Test) to serve for both registration and PG entrance, prepare guidelines for fee regulation by private medical colleges, and developing standards for Community Health Providers to serve in primary healthcare with a limited license for practice.

(IANS)