Fee control, temporary registration: Dental, Nursing Commissions will bring these changes

Chairpersons of the Dental Commission and Nursing Commissions will not be elected but appointed by the union government.

Both nationals nursing and midwifery commission and national dental commission will enhance transparency and quality of nursing and dental education respectively. (Image: Freepik)

Sanjay | August 1, 2023 | 02:54 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Fees of 50% seats in private dental colleges will be regulated by the National Dental Commission. The chairpersons of the Dental and National Nursing and Midwifery Commissions will not be elected from among the members of the bodies but appointed by the union government. The Nursing and Dental Commissions will also allow temporary registration of nurses and dentists qualified abroad – a provision that didn’t exist in earlier laws.

Both commissions will also be significantly larger with multiple boards below each and the Dental Commission members, at least, will be legally mandated to disclose their assets and liabilities publicly. These are some of the key changes that the two key health ministry bills passed in Lok Sabha last week seek to bring.

Lok Sabha passed the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill 2023 and the National Dental Commission Bill 2023 last week during the ongoing monsoon session of parliament. Once enacted into law, the first will replace the Indian Nursing Council by repealing the underpinning Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947; the second replaces the Dentists Act, 1948 and the Dental Council of India.

According to union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, once enacted and enforced, both laws will enhance transparency and quality of education and practice in the fields of nursing, midwifery, and dentistry.

Mandaviya introduced ‘The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023’ in Lok Sabha on July 24 and it was passed on July 28. The new commission it provides for will set educational standards for nursing colleges as well as professional standards for nursing and midwifery professionals. Similarly, the Dental Commission will set standards for dental colleges – including BDS and MDS programmes – and for dentists.

National Nursing and Midwifery Commission: Changes

Key differences between Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 and National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill 2023 are as given below.

National Nursing and Midwifery Commission 2023

Parameter	Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947	National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023
Regulatory body	Indian Nursing Council	National Nursing and Midwifery Commission
Composition	1 chairperson 6 ex-officio members 13 members	1 chairperson 16 ex-officio members 2 members
Chairperson selection	Elected from among council members	Appointed by union government
Foreign nationals	No temporary registration	Provides for temporary registration of foreign nationals
Board and Committees	7 committees: Executive Committee Nursing Education Committee Equivalence Committee Finance Advisory Committee Vigilance Committee Departmental Promotion Committee Anti-Ragging Committee	2 committees, 3 autonomous boards. Committees: Advisory Committees for boards Search-cum-Selection Committee for appointment. Autonomous boards: Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board Nursing and Midwifery Assessment and Rating Board Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board
Meetings	No fixed schedule	Commission, once every quarter; autonomous board, once in a month

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National Dental Commission: What changes?

Also on July 24, the union health minister introduced ‘The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023’ in Lok Sabha and it was passed on July 28. The Bill repeals the Dentists Act, 1948 and constitutes the National Dental Commission which will draft policies and maintain standards in dental education and the profession. Two key changes include a provision for fee control in private dental colleges and allowing temporary registration to allow foreign citizens to practise in India.

Key differences between Dentist Act, 1948 and National Dental Commission Bill, 2023.

National Dental Commission 2023

Parameter	Dentist Act, 1948	National Dental Commission Bill, 2023
Regulatory body	Dental Council of India	National Dental Council
Composition	8 members 1 member from each university, dental college 1 member from each state	1 chairperson 8 ex-officio members 24 part-time members
Chairperson selection	Elected from among members	Appointed by the union government.
Committees and Boards	Executive Committee and no board.	3 autonomous boards: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board Dental Assessment and Rating Board Ethics and Dental Registration Board
Meeting	No fixed schedule	Commission, once every quarter; autonomous boards, once every month.
Foreign degrees, nationals	Those with foreign dental qualifications have to qualify the Dental Screening Test for licence. No registration for foreign citizen	People with foreign dental qualification have to qualify the National Exit Test (Dental) for a licence. Temporary registration allowed for foreign citizens.
Asset declaration	No rules	Chairperson, members’ declarations to be published on commission website
UG and PG admissions	BDS – NEET UG MDS – NEET MDS	BDS – NEET-UG MDS – NExT (Dental)
Private colleges fee	No rules	50% seats fee-controlled

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