DAK to observe one hour strike today against NMC Bill
Srinagar: Showing resentment against NMC bill, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) has called for a one hour withdrawal of services on Thursday from 10 AM to 11 AM.
A statement issued by DAK on Wednesday said that the “non-essential services, including OPDs”, will be shut from 10 a.m. on till 11 a.m. on Thursday.
However, emergency services including casualty, operation theatres, ICU and related services will function normally, said a spokesperson of DAK.
The DAK has asked medical students of various medical colleges in state to boycott classes in solidarity.
DAK President Dr Suhail Naik called the NMC bill as “draconian in nature and is going to degrade and degenerate the health and medical education system of country”.
He said that section 32 of the NMC Bill provides for licensing of 3.5 lakhs “unqualified non-medical persons to practice modern medicine”.
“The bill has vaguely defined term Community Health Provider and allows anyone associated with modern medicine to get registered in NMC and be licensed to practice modern medicine. This would mean that all paramedics including pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, optometrists and others are becoming eligible to practice modern medicine and prescribe independently. This law legalizes quackery,” he said.
Dr Owais H Dar General Secretary DAK said that if the Bill was not amended, it will lead to “deterioration in the standards of medical education”.
KV News
