New Medical Bill: OPDs to remain shut across India on July 31 to protest against NMC

Protesting against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, which doctors say will encourage quacks, outpatient departments (OPDs) in government hospitals will remain shut across the country on Wednesday (July 31, 2019). The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has a call for a nationwide 24-hour withdrawal of non-essential services. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 29, 2019).  OPDs will remain closed from 6 am on Wednesday and 6 am on Thursday. However, emergency and ICU services will function normally, according to a IANS report.​
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All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) and The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) have asked their members to wear black badges, the report said. Medical students were also reportedly asked by the IMA to boycott classes in solidarity. ​
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"Section 32 of the NMC Bill provides for licensing of 3.5 lakh unqualified non-medical persons to practise modern medicine. The term Community Health Provider has been vaguely defined to allow anyone connected with modern medicine to get registered in NMC and be licensed to practise modern medicine," IANS quoted RV Asokan, Secretary General, IMA, as saying.​
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Asokan said with this Bill, all paramedics including pharmacists, optometrists, nurses, physiotherapists, and others will be eligible to practice medicine and prescribe independently and also legalises quackery. This Bill gives licence to 3.5 lakh unqualified non-medical persons to practise modern medicine.