Cabinet clears change in Homeopathy Act

New Delhi, Mar 31: The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for amending the Homeopathy Act to ensure quality homoeopathy education.

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval for the amendment of the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters briefing about cabinet decisions.

Official sources said that the amendment will make provisions granting permission by the central government to all homoeopathic medical colleges for continuing course so that homoeopathy education is given only through colleges which can impart quality education.

The Centre's permission to undertake annual admissions is being made mandatory for all the homoeopathy colleges while the provision to give permission for five years to colleges which conform to the prescribed standards has been incorporated.

"This amendment will ensure quality homoeopathy education leading to better healthcare through the homeopathy system of medicine," official sources said.

They said that the existing provisions in the Act are not enabling the Centre to stop admissions in existing colleges which were not conforming to standards specified in the regulations.

Due to this, the quality of homoeopathy education was being compromised, they said.

Sources said that the amendment will improve standards of existing colleges to the prescribed levels and ensure similar standards of infrastructure, facilities and manpower in existing homoeopathic colleges as would be required for new colleges.

PTI