National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH)

National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH)

  • Context:

  • As India prepares for World Homoeopathy Day (April 10), commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) has been at the forefront of urging nationwide observances to promote homoeopathic practices and sustainable health

  • Legislative Background:

  • The NCH is a statutory body constituted under the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020.

  • It officially came into force in July 2021.

  • The 2020 Act completely replaced and repealed the outdated Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, thereby replacing the erstwhile Central Council of Homeopathy.

  • It was established to provide an updated medical education system that improves access to quality and affordable education, ensuring the availability of high-quality homoeopathic medical professionals nationwide.

  • The Commission is constituted by the Central Government and operates through several key autonomous boards to streamline its functions:

  • Homoeopathy Education Board: Responsible for formulating academic standards, developing curriculum, and issuing guidelines for setting up medical institutions.

  • Medical Assessment and Rating Board: Tasked with determining the process of rating medical institutions, levying monetary penalties for failing to maintain minimum standards, and granting permission for establishing new medical colleges.

  • Board of Ethics and Medical Registration: Maintains a comprehensive National Register of all licensed homoeopathic medical practitioners and regulates their professional and ethical conduct.

  • Powers and Functions:

  • Standardised Examinations:

  • The NCH is mandated to conduct a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and a National Exit Test for undergraduate homoeopathy education across all regulated medical institutions.

  • Teachers' Eligibility:

  • The Act also introduces a National Teachers’ Eligibility Test for postgraduates wishing to take up teaching homoeopathy as a profession.

  • Regulatory Oversight:

  • It lays down the overarching policies for maintaining high standards in homoeopathic education and heavily regulates medical research in the field.