Mysuru: Strongly opposing the Union Government’s move to pass the National Medical Commission Bill, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Mysuru, staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Friday last.

The doctors took out a cycle and bike rally starting from J.K. Grounds and passed through Railway Station Circle, Dasappa Circle and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle (Metropole Circle) to reach the DC Office.

According to the National Medical Commission Bill, a 20-member National Medical Council will be formed with only five members from the medical sector and the rest from non-medical backgrounds.

When the Council will be represented by political heads and leaders, the ultimate sufferers will be the general public, the protesting doctors claimed.

Continuing, the protestors said that the Bill provides provision for a bridge course on Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medicine which in turn will lead to the decline of quality of MBBS courses and doctors with limited knowledge about the subject will treat patients.

They further said that students who complete the 5-year MBBS course along with a year of internship will have to clear the National Exit Exam in order to get a medical practitioner’s licence, which will only add to the burden of students.

IMA office-bearers Dr. Sujatha Rao, Dr. M.S. Vishweshwara, Dr. Jayanth, Dr. S.P. Yoganna, Dr. Harish and others were present.