National Medical Commission Welcomes Its New Secretary
The National Medical Commission, previously known as the Medical Council of India, has been generating significant discussion over the past few months. Beyond routine administrative choices, the commission has also undertaken substantial measures to reinforce healthcare at all levels. Following the draft regulations concerning foreign medical education and the recent proposal regarding fee regulation for medical programs in India, the commission is now experiencing yet another major transition.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Vats, the outgoing secretary of the NMC, has concluded his tenure, which was initially scheduled to run through 2020. The new secretary of the NMC will be Dr. Sandhya Bhullar, IPS (GJ:2003).
Yesterday, Dr. RK Vats stepped down as secretary of the National Medical Commission. Speculation regarding his departure had been circulating for quite some time. Dr. Vats had been associated with the Medical Council of India since 2010 and played an active role in the reorganization of the MCI and the subsequent establishment of the NMC later that year.
Today, the cabinet has formally accepted the resignation of Dr. Vats and named his successor. A notification released by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, dated 27-05-2021, states the following:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the subsequent items:
- Post-facto approval accepting the resignation of Dr. R.K. Vats from the position of secretary of the National Medical Commission, effective from 25-05-2021; and
- The appointment of Dr. Sandhya Bhullar, IAS (GJ:2003), Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, as secretary of the National Medical Commission.
Dr. Sandhya Bhullar belongs to the 2003 batch of the Indian Administrative Service from the Gujarat cadre. She served as Director in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, under the Central Staffing Scheme in 2019. In 2020, she transitioned laterally to the Department of Economic Affairs within the Ministry of Finance. Earlier this year, she was elevated to the role of Joint Secretary in that same department.
At present, students, parents, medical professionals, and citizens across the country hold high expectations for the NMC. The Ashiraj MBBS team extends its best wishes to both Dr. Bhullar and Dr. Vats in their future endeavors.
