Mangaluru: Indian Medical Association (IMA) State president Ravindra H.N. on Tuesday flagged off a Statewide protest rally against the National Medical Commission Bill.

Several doctors came on their bicycles and two-wheelers for the rally, which was flagged off from the IMA House at Hampankatta. The doctors proceeded to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and submitted a memorandum.

In a statement, IMA Manglauru said the NMC Bill was detrimental to the medical profession and the health sector. The Bill allows Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani and Sidda practitioners to do a short course in allopathy and prescribe allopathic medicines. Such a measure will demean the MBBS course, the statement said.

The Bill makes it mandatory for MBBS graduates to clear the National Exit Examination to get licence to practice, IMA Mangaluru said.

The NMC Bill should be opposed not only by doctors but by the public at large, and the rally’s aim is to spread awareness on this, they said.