13. COMMITTEE SECTION (H&FW) 13.1 Main Functions of Committee- The Committee Section (H&FW) is entrusted with task of providing secretarial assistance for all types of work relating to Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare. Like or Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees serviced by Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Committee on Health & Family Welfare is governed by Rules 268 to 277 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Council of States. Furr, Rules 74 to 92 of said Rules relating to Select Committees on Bills apply mutatis mutandis to Committee. The Committee on Health & Family Welfare deals with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare which consists of two Departments namely:- (i) (ii) Department of Health & Family Welfare; and Department of AYUSH The functions assigned to Committee, as enumerated in Rule 270 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Council of States are consideration of Demands-for-Grants of related Ministries/Departments, exaation of Bills pertaining to related Ministries/Departments when referred to Committee by Chairman or Speaker, consideration of Annual Reports of related Ministries/Departments; and basic longterm policy documents presented to Houses and referred to Committee by Chairman or Speaker and report reon. 13.2 Tenure of Committee: The Committee was constituted on 5 th August, 2005 under Chairmanship of Shri Amar Singh, M.P. The tenure of Committee was one year. The first meeting of Committee in year, was held on 9 th January,, on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill-2005. After expiry of term of Committee on 4 th August, it was reconstituted w.e.f. 5 th August for anor term of one year. The first meeting of Committee after its reconstitution was held on 4 th September,.
13.3 Consideration of Demands for Grants (-2007): The Committee undertook exaation of Demands-for- Grants (-07) of related Departments during recess of Budget session of. In course of exaation of Demands-for Grants (-07), Committee heard Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare on 13 th April, and Secretary, Department of AYUSH at its meetings held, 12 th & 24 th April,. The Committee held its next meeting on 17 th May, for consideration and adoption of two Reports on Demands-for- Grants (-07) of above two Departments and adopted same. Thereafter, 16 th &17 th Reports were presented/laid in both Houses of Parliament on 22 nd May,. 13.4 Reports on Action Taken by Govt. on Demands for Grants (-2007): The Action Taken Notes from Department of AYUSH and Health and Family Welfare based on recommendations/observations of Committee contained in its 17 th and 16 th Reports on Demands-for-Grants (-07), of respective Departments were received on 30 th November and 28 th December, respectively. The Committee would consider and present its Report on Action Taken Notes during ensuing Budget Session 2007. 13.5 Bills: Two Bills namely Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005 and Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill, 2005 were referred to Committee on 24 th August, 2005 for exaation and report within three months. As Committee could not conclude its work within stipulated time due to complexity of issues involved, it sought five extensions of time in respect of Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005 and three extensions of time in respect of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill, 2005 from Hon ble Chairman, which were duly granted. The Committee continued its discussion on both Bills during year. In respect of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill, 2005 Committee heard views of representatives of Department of AYUSH, heads of premier institutions and laboratories and a few experts. The Committee presented its Report on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill, 2005 in both Houses of Parliament on 28 th July. In respect of Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005 Committee heard representative of Department of Health & Family Welfare and
keeping in view far-reaching implications of Bill, held extensive discussions with a large number of witnesses representing MCI including those associated with it in past, State Councils, Indian Medical Association, some State Branches of IMA, State Universities and also some experts. The Committee in order to conduct in-depth exaation of all aspects connected with Bills, visited Maharashtra (Pune, Mumbai) and Gujarat (Ahmedabad) from 17 th to 21 st September, ; Karnataka (Bangalore), Tamil Nadu (Chennai) and Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati, Hyderabad) form 6 th to 12 th October, and Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), Bihar (Patna), West Bengal (Kolkata) and North-East States (Guwahati) from 6 th to 11 th November,. During se study visits, Committee had opportunity to interact with all stakeholders directly, right from representatives of Private and Government Medical Colleges, State Medical Councils, State Branches of IMA to State Government authorities. The Committee presented its Report on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005 in both houses of Parliament on 19 th December,. 13.6 Sub-Committees: No sub-committee has been constituted, so far. 13.7 Visits/Tours: - The Committee undertook following three study visits during this year on subject of Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill-2005:- (i) Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad from 17 th to 21 st September, ; (ii) Bangalore, Chennai, Tirupati and Hyderabad from 6 th to 12 th October, ;and (iii) Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata and Guwahati, from 6 th to 11 th November,. 13.8 Meetings and Reports: - The Committee held, in all, 15 meetings during year 2005 spread over 30 hours and 20 utes. Details of meetings are given in (Annexure 13.1). During year under review Committee presented a total of four Reports (Annexure 13.2) 13.9 Goals and Analysis: - The main tasks assigned to each Department-related Committee as per rule 270 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Council of States, are consideration of Demands for Grants of related
Ministries/Departments; exaation of Bills, basic long-term policy documents, if referred to Committee and exaation of Annual Reports of related Ministries/Departments. Accordingly, Committee considered Demands-for-Grants (-2007) of related Ministry/Departments and submitted two reports to Parliament. As Action Taken Note (ATN) on 17 th Report on Demands-for-Grants (-07) relating to Department of AYUSH was received on 30 th November, and Action Taken Note on 16 th Report of Committee on Demandsfor-Grants (-07) relating to Department of Health &Family Welfare was received on 28 th December, Committee could not consider m during year. The Committee will consider said ATNs and present its Reports on same during ensuing Budget Session. The Committee very recently has also decided to take up following subjects for detailed study: - (i) Functioning of AIIMS and proposal for setting up of six AIIMS- like Institutes in Country; (ii) Health Insurance Policy for general public; and (iii) Central Government Health Scheme The background note and or related papers on above mentioned subjects are in process of being procured from Ministry. The Committee will begin its discussion on subjects in year 2007. 13.10 Status of Computerization: - This section has four computers and Reports of Committee, notices, utes, noting/drafting, etc. were also done on computers. Apart from this, various information was also uploaded on "Committee Software". 13.11 Inspection of Section during 2005: - The annual inspection was conducted by n D.S.( MS&A) on 30 th January,. 13.12 Training: - One of Senior Assistants posted in Section received training on Office Procedure, Noting, Drafting and Parliamentary Practice and Procedure. The or Senior Assistant also received training on Parliament Practice and Procedure. The n Committee Officer attended training course on "Records Management for Right to Information".
13.13 Miscellaneous:- Besides rendering secretarial assistance to Committee in discharge of its functions, this Section also dealt with following items:- (a) Publication and circulation of 12 th, 13 th, 14 th and 15 th reports of Committee. (b) Correspondence with Ministries/Departments concerned on matters taken up by Committee and liaisoning with m; (c) Furnishing of information on matters relating to Committee to different sections/branches of Rajya Sabha/ Lok Sabha Secretariats and agencies outside; and (d) Processing of bills in respect of following: (i) TA/DA of witnesses (as admissible under rules) (ii) Refreshment / Lunch served in meetings of Committee (e) Providing Quarterly status reports, Annual Action Plan for forthcog quarter/year and Annual Report of previous year to section concerned of Secretariat. ANNEXURE 13.1 MEETINGS HELD BY THE DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DURING. S.NO. Dates of Meeting 1. 9-1- Business transacted Meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare Purpose discussed) Institution visited/oral Exaation etc. (Subject (i) The Committee heard representatives of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh State Medical Councils on various provisions of Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005. also heard Time Devoted 2 hrs.10
2. 13-2- 3. 12-4- 4. 13-4- representatives of U.P, Bihar, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh State Branches of IMA on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005. -do- (i) The Committee heard Secretary and or officials of Department of AYUSH on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005. heard views of representatives of King George s Medical University, Lucknow and Shri N.B. Singh, ex Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, Imphal on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill- 2005. -do- The Committee considered Demands- for Grants (-07) of Department AYUSH and heard Secretary of Department in this regard. -do- The Committee considered Demands- for Grants (-07) of Department of Health and Family Welfare and heard Secretary of 2 hrs.52 1 hrs.45 4 hrs.45
5. 24-4- 6. 17-5- 7. 02-6- Department in this regard. Meeting of The Committee considered Parliamentary Demands- for Grants Standing (-07) of Committee Department AYUSH on Health & and heard Family Secretary of Welfare Department in this regard. -do- (i)the Committee considered and adopted 16 th and 17 th draft Reports on Demands-for-Grants (-07) relating to Department of Health and Family Welfare and Department of AYUSH respectively. also decided to seek extension of time for presentation of its Reports on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005 and Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005 from Hon'ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha. -do- (i)the Committee heard Secretary of Deptt. of Health and Family Welfare on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005. 1 hrs.40 1 hrs 2 hrs.43
8. 12-6- 9. 21-6- heard views of Drugs Controller General of India and Director, HPL & PLIM, Ghaziabad on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005. -do- (i) The Committee heard views of representatives of Rajasthan State Branch of IMA on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005. heard views of Director, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur; Director,National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore; CEO, ZANDU Pharmaceutical Ltd. Mumbai, General Secretary, Ayurveda Drug Manufacturers Association, Mumbai on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005. Meeting of (i) The Committee initiated clause-byclause Parliamentary discussion on Standing Indian Medical Committee Council (Amendment) on Health & Bill-2005. The Family discussion remained Welfare inconclusive due to 2 hrs.40 2 hrs.30
10. 6-7- difference of opinion on certain provisions of Bill. The Committee decided to conclude its discussion in its next meeting. also heard views of Registrar, Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi and Director (Acting), National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005. -do- The Committee discussed matter of removal of Dr. P. Venugopal, Director, AIIMS by Governing Body of AIIMS in its meeting held on 5 th July,. Majority of members were of view that Director of a premier institution of country like AIIMS, who is a highly acclaimed doctor should not have been removed in such an unsavoury manner. The Committee accordingly passed a resolution in this regard and forwarded same to Government. 2 hrs 15 11. 15-7- -do- (i) The Committee 2 hrs.
took up Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill- 2005 for consideration. The Committee felt that since Bill had long term bearing on medical education in country, some more time was required to exae entire spectrum of issues involved in Bill. The Committee was of unanimous view that opinion of those who are running medical colleges/institutions in country and that of people at large needed to be elicited to enable it to holistically exae Bill. The Committee, refore, decided to undertake study visits to medical colleges/ institutions scattered in different parts of country for purpose.the Committee also felt that status of medical education prevalent in U.K., U.S.A, China, Australia etc also needed to be studied so that useful features of ir systems could be
12. 25-7- Meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare incorporated in our system. In view of foregoing, Committee decided to seek furr extension of time upto last-day of Winter Session for presentation/laying of its Report on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill-2005. also heard Secretary, Department of AYUSH on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005. (i) The Committee considered and adopted its 18 th Report on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005 decided that keeping in view wider ramifications of Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill- 2005, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare be asked to furnish a Status Report on existing medical education systems, medical regulatory bodies and relevant rules and 45
13. 4-9- Meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare regulations governing medical education in U.K., Australia, Canada, China, Thailand, Taiwan and some Latin American Countries like Brazil to enable Committee to make a comparative study and also to decide its future course of action in matter. (iii) The Committee reiterated its decision taken at its last meeting held on 15 th July, that subject to grant of extension of time by Hon ble Chairman for presentation/ laying of its Report on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill- 2005, it would undertake study visits to different places in country. The Committee discussed its future programme. The Committee decided to undertake study visits to Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad from 17 th to 22 nd September, and Bangalore, Tirupati, Chennai and Hyderabad from 5 th to 12 th October, to interact with representatives of medical colleges, 1 hrs 05
14. 18-10- State Governments and State Medical Councils re and gar valuable inputs for finalisation of its Report on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005. The Committee, felt that some or issues of vital public importance needed to be taken up for exaation. After detailed deliberation, Committee decided to take up for exaation (i) functioning of All India Institute of Medical Sciences and proposal for setting up of six AIIMS like Institutes (ii) Water standards guidelines and (iii) Health Insurance Policy for general public. -do- The Committee felt that since it has visited only Maharashtra, Gujarat and South Indian States on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005, its Report on Bill cannot be said to be complete and should not be finalized without reflecting views of Norrn and North Eastern 40.
15. 06-12- Meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare States. It was emphasized that Study visits to Uttar Pradesh, which is one of largest States in India, and or Norrn and North- Eastern States are a must for taking a holistic view in matter. Most of Members supported this view. The Committee also decided to meet Hon'ble Chairman to request him to furr grant extension of time beyond 31 st October, for presentation of Committee's Report on Bill. The Committee considered and adopted its report on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005. 1 hrs 30 ANNEXURE 8.2 REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTRY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE PRESENTATED DURING. S. No. Subject of Report Date of Presentation/ laying of Reports. 1. Sixteenth Report on Demands-for- 22.05.
Grants (-07) of Department of Health & Family Welfare. 2. Seventeenth Report on Demandsfor-Grants (-07) of Department of AYUSH. 3. Eighteenth Report on Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill-2005 4. Nineteenth Report on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill- 2005 22.05. 28.07. 19.12.