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New Delhi, August 3, 2025 — The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has not received any reports regarding alleged bias or transparency issues within the National Medical Commission (NMC), Minister of State for Health Smt. Anupriya Patel told Parliament. The Minister’s statement comes in response to questions raised about potential lack of transparency in the NMC and concerns about possible bias in favor of doctors over patients.
Dr. M. Thambidurai had questioned whether the government was aware of reports alleging that the NMC operates in a manner that favors healthcare professionals at the expense of patients. The Minister clarified, “No such report has been received in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.”
Smt. Patel emphasized that the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC is responsible for regulating professional conduct and promoting medical ethics among doctors. She pointed to established mechanisms for handling misconduct complaints under Clause 8.2 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, which allows any complaint about professional misconduct to be brought before the appropriate Medical Council. The Council is required to conduct an inquiry and give the accused practitioner an opportunity to be heard. If found guilty, the practitioner may be punished or even removed from the medical register, with such removals widely publicized to ensure accountability.
The Minister also outlined safeguards to ensure the transparency and fairness of the NMC, noting that the Central Government appoints key leadership positions as prescribed in the NMC Act, 2019. The NMC includes ten ex-officio members such as heads of leading medical institutions, as well as twenty-two part-time members from various states and elected state medical council representatives.
However, concerns persist regarding the appeal process. After replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI), the NMC has been reportedly rejecting appeals from patients, stating that only medical practitioners are eligible to appeal under the NMC Act, 2019. Section 30(3) of the Act specifies that only aggrieved medical practitioners or professionals may appeal actions taken by State Medical Councils to the Ethics and Medical Registration Board. Previously, under MCI regulations, appeals could be submitted by any party, including patients and non-medical professionals.
As the landscape of medical regulation in India continues to evolve, stakeholders continue to seek clarity on patient rights and the mechanisms in place to ensure both accountability and transparency in the medical profession.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of August 3, 2025, and closely follows official statements and parliamentary disclosures. For the most current developments, readers are advised to consult official sources and government notifications.
