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NCHRH Bill aims to block medicos’ ‘fly early’ move
In the days to come, migration to the West in search of greener pastures may not be possible for Indian medical professionals soon after acquiring higher skills abroad at the cost of the Government funds.
The Health Ministry’s proposed National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) Bill 2011--under the consideration of Parliament---aims to curb the frequent flying trend of the doctors which is posing a severe strain on the healthcare sector in the country.
As per Clause 59 of the proposed Bill, every medical professional will be bound to serve at least three years in the country after acquiring higher skills or education outside India in the field of health. In case they fail to do so, their name would be removed from the National Register or the state register. The Bill strives to regulate standards of health education in the country.
“It includes all the individuals who obtain a degree at graduate or post graduate or doctoral or post doctoral or super specialty from a university or institution which receives grant from the Central Government or state government or controlled by the government,” says the Bill.
A senior health official pointed out that it is for the first time that such a stringent clause has been proposed to improve the doctor-patient ratio by retaining more trained medical personnel. India has just one doctor for every 1,700 people, while the global ratio is one doctor for every 670 persons. It’s estimated that 60,000 Indian physicians work abroad, and the MCI says 767 more doctors left this year, till July last year.
Justifying the step, the officer noted, “In terms of money, our Government spends a large sum of the taxpayer’s money every year on the training of doctors through its generous subsidies for higher education. Isn’t it logical that the society should get returns on its investment? Doctors can’t shy away from their responsibilities.”
The proposed Bill also provides “that any person whose name has been removed under Clause 59 but opts to return to India shall be entitled to get his name re-entered subject to payment of such fees and fulfillment of such conditions as may be specified by regulations by the commission (proposed to be set up under the legislation).
In the days to come, migration to the West in search of greener pastures may not be possible for Indian medical professionals soon after acquiring higher skills abroad at the cost of the Government funds.
The Health Ministry’s proposed National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) Bill 2011--under the consideration of Parliament---aims to curb the frequent flying trend of the doctors which is posing a severe strain on the healthcare sector in the country.
As per Clause 59 of the proposed Bill, every medical professional will be bound to serve at least three years in the country after acquiring higher skills or education outside India in the field of health. In case they fail to do so, their name would be removed from the National Register or the state register. The Bill strives to regulate standards of health education in the country.
“It includes all the individuals who obtain a degree at graduate or post graduate or doctoral or post doctoral or super specialty from a university or institution which receives grant from the Central Government or state government or controlled by the government,” says the Bill.
A senior health official pointed out that it is for the first time that such a stringent clause has been proposed to improve the doctor-patient ratio by retaining more trained medical personnel. India has just one doctor for every 1,700 people, while the global ratio is one doctor for every 670 persons. It’s estimated that 60,000 Indian physicians work abroad, and the MCI says 767 more doctors left this year, till July last year.
Justifying the step, the officer noted, “In terms of money, our Government spends a large sum of the taxpayer’s money every year on the training of doctors through its generous subsidies for higher education. Isn’t it logical that the society should get returns on its investment? Doctors can’t shy away from their responsibilities.”
The proposed Bill also provides “that any person whose name has been removed under Clause 59 but opts to return to India shall be entitled to get his name re-entered subject to payment of such fees and fulfillment of such conditions as may be specified by regulations by the commission (proposed to be set up under the legislation).
