September 14, 2020
Pratima Mondal speaks on The National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, 2020 and The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2020
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Sir, first I would like to speak on The National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, 2020.
Sir, now coming to section 9(6). It states that in order to overcome the scenario of a pending judgement, it is essential to fix the time period within which the Central government will be obliged to resolve the matter. There is a need to mention within the Bill, whether the verdict of the Central government is final or whether the aggrieved person has the right to approach the judiciary.
According to section 15(1), a final-year National Exit Test (NET) would be held. However, holding such a test will be an added burden on both the students and the examiner. Then again, when the NET is opted for as a method for giving license to the candidate, why not make it the test for giving admission to postgraduate courses as well? The rank in the National Exit Test can be the parameter for giving admission to postgraduate courses.
Sir, section 17(1) talks about the National Teachers’ Eligibility Test for Homoeopathy. There are many teachers who do not hold PG degrees but are part of the system, and they will remain in the system for a quite a long period of time. So there must be a provision for a refresher course to be conducted for them.
According to section 24(1), the meeting of the Autonomous Boards would need to meet at least once a month. Now, these meetings need not be so frequent as a month’s time hardly provides the scope for qualitative research; therefore, meetings should be held on a quarterly basis.
In section 24(3), the time period within which a grievance must be redressed is not mentioned.
Section 26(2) is a crucial suggestion as it seeks to improve homoeopathic treatment in our country. The students must compulsorily be trained in the new basic technologies in the medical field like MRI, CT scan and others. This would ensure a holistic approach.
Sir, the National Institute of Homeopathy in Kolkata has been striving to add to the legacy of this vulnerable system of medicine since 1975. The International Homoeopathy Conference-cum-Scientific Convention, organised by the Ministry of AYUSH on World homeopathy Day 2020, was held in collaboration with this institute at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. Here I would like to request the honourable Minister to carry on such collaborations and promotion of homoeopathy through this esteemed institute of our State.
Sir, now I would like to speak on the The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2020. Here we see that there is no separate representation from sowa-rigpa as it is there for the fields of ayurveda, unani and siddha. As you may know, Sir, the PMO has recently cleared a proposal for turning the National Research Institute for Sowa-rigpa into an autonomous body and renaming it as the National Institute of Sowa-rigpa. There must be a separate representation from this particular institution or from any other institution that conducts menpa kachupa, which is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree on sowa-rigpa.
Sir, the aim of the Bill should be to bring transparency but that is not achievable if almost all the members are nominated by the Central government. There must be more elected members from the States.
Thirdly, sections 15 and 16 talk about a National Exit Test (NET) and a test for admission to postgraduate courses. The NET, as provided for in the National Medical Commission Bill, 2019, itself can solve the requirement for admission for postgraduation.
Fourtly, once again I would like to request the honourable Minister to consider a training course, followed by a qualifying test, for all those current teachers who do not have postgraduation degrees.
As per the Bill, the appellate jurisdiction over decisions taken by the National Commission Fund for Indian System of Medicine (NCFISM) is being given to the Central government. This is absolutely against the basic structure of the Constitution which proposes separation of powers. A separate tribunal must be set up to deal with the jurisdiction related to the Commission which must be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court.
