NMC does not encourage medical practice through private platform or aggregators: Health Minister

New Delhi: "As informed by NMC, it does not encourage medical practice through private platform or aggregators."

This was a response given by Dr. Bharati Pawar MOS Health while responding to questions raised in the parliament in regard to the violation of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 act by the doctors providing online consultation to the patients coming through online aggregator platforms.

The past two years have been one of the most challenging years for the Indian healthcare industry and economy alike, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic also overhauled an unprecedented rise in the adoption and use of digital healthcare technologies in India.

Seeing the Need of the hour, the Medical Council of India Board of Governors (MCI BOG) ( later replaced by National Medical Commission,) the then apex medical regulator permitted the practice through telemedicine by its registered doctors yet released a set of the framework in terms of Telemedicine practice guidelines for the same.

As the pandemic progressed, use of online platforms became common for giving consultations. Many of these platforms have also been under fire for their alleged ways of working in terms of commission and aggregation as well as rating. Recently a medical association was also seen warning its members against these online aggregators, Terming online aggregator platforms such as Pristyn, Medfin, Practo, etc as online touts.

With the parliament in session, questions were also raised in the Rajya Sabha on these online medical aggregator platforms, and whether 

Responding to the questions informed that the Government is aware of the practice of doctors seeing patients offered by online medical aggregator platforms and paying a commission for the same and whether such arrangement is violative of the provisions of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation Act, 2002 as the aggregator platforms function as middlemen between doctors and patients, the minister replied

National Medical Commission (NMC) is a statutory body which is entrusted with the responsibility of discharging the duty of maintenance of highest standard of medical education in the country. The professional conduct of medical practitioner is governed by Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 which was notified by erstwhile Medical Council of India. Clause 3.8 of the Regulations permitted medical practitioner, registered under NMC Act, 2019, consultation through Telemedicine.

As informed by NMC, it does not encourage medical practice through private platform or aggregators

The minister also replied that the NMC or the state medical council is empowered to take action in case of any violations in such matters 

 "Any act of violating the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 amounts to professional misconduct. The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission or the appropriate State Medical Councils have been empowered to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the provisions of the aforesaid Regulations. The Ethics and Medical Registration Board is an Appellate Authority in the matter," she added.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported Responding to an RTI, the Maharashtra Medical Council has answered on registered medical practitioners of allopathy cannot list themselves with Online internet platforms including JustDial, Sulekha and even practice management software like PRACTO that allow online consultations and revenue sharing.