With the main purpose to completely revamp the entire system of medical education system in the country, the Union health ministry has decided to scrap all regulatory bodies, including the Medical Council of India (MCI), Dental Council of India, Pharmacy Council and the Nursing Council.

It is learnt that there will be a single regulatory body-the National Council for Human Resources in Health, which will oversee seven departments related to medicine, nursing, dentistry, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, pharmacy, public health/hospital management and allied health sciences.

Apart from performing the regulatory functions, the new body will also carry out assessment and accreditation of medical and health institutions across the country.

However, for this purpose a formal notification from the government would be required.

It is felt that the existing councils have failed completely to offer an interactive approach and there is an insistent requirement for innovation in health-related education.

Notably, this action comes barely two months after a private TV news channel exposed private medical schools in Tamil Nadu charging students huge capitation fees.