Why in News?

• Lok Sabha has passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2018.
• It seeks to replace the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) with a board of governors and is aimed at bringing accountability and quality in homeopathy education system.

Key features of the Bill:

Supersession of the Central Council:

• It amends the 1973 Act to provide for the supersession of the Central Council with effect from May 18, 2018.
• The Central Council will be reconstituted within one year from the date of its supersession.
• In the interim period, the central government will constitute a Board of Governors, which will exercise the powers of the Central Council.

Board of Governors:

• The Board of Governors will consist of up to seven members including: (i) persons of eminence in the field of homoeopathy education, and (ii) eminent administrators, appointed by the central government.
• The central government will select one of these members as the Chairperson of the Board. With regard to policy decisions, the directions of the central government will be final.

Permission for existing homoeopathy colleges:

• The Bill states that: (i) if any person has established a homoeopathy medical college, or (ii) if an established homoeopathy medical college has opened new courses or increased its admission capacity before the Ordinance was promulgated, it will have to seek permission from the central government within one year.
• If the person or homoeopathy medical college fails to seek such permission, then any medical qualification granted to a student from such medical college will not be recognised under the Act.