The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised concerned over Section 32 of the NMC Bill that provides for licensing of 3.5 lakhs non medical persons or Community Health Providers to practise modern medicine. According to the Bill, the Commission may grant limited licence to practice medicine at mid-level as Community Health Provider to such person connected with modern scientific medical profession who qualifies such criteria as may be specified by the regulations. Earlier there was a proposal of a bridge course clearing which alternative medicine doctors could practise modern medicine. The provision was majorly opposed by doctors when the Bill was proposed. The government made changes in the bill for the provision but proposed similar idea of Community Health Providers to help tackle the disease burden in rural areas.

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