
New Delhi: In a significant move to uphold patients’ rights, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to accept appeals against State Medical Councils’ (SMCs) decisions. Previously, since its establishment in 2020, the NMC had been rejecting such appeals, citing Section 30(3) of the NMC Act 2019, which allowed only doctors to challenge SMC rulings.
This policy shift was recorded in the minutes of the 16th NMC meeting on September 23, 2024, following long-standing demands from health activists, including Dr. K V Babu, who had filed an RTI on the matter.
According to official records, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) will now entertain all appeals received. Additionally, if SMCs fail to act on complaints from non-medical individuals despite reminders, the EMRB may take over the matter and ensure a resolution.
The move aligns with Section 8.8 of the MCI Ethics Regulations 2002, which grants individuals the right to appeal SMC decisions within 60 days. While this provision existed under the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), it had been disregarded after NMC took over.
Between March and September 2022 alone, the NMC rejected 65 patient appeals, citing “non-maintainability.” Efforts to amend the NMC Act 2019 to formally allow patient appeals were stalled by the Central Government in 2023. However, with this latest decision, the NMC is now taking a proactive approach to ensure patient grievances are addressed.
Health activist Dr. K V Babu welcomed the decision, calling it a long-overdue step toward patient justice.