Action Against Quackery: NMC sets up 6-member committee to draft procedural guidelines

New Delhi: In response to the escalating issue of quackery across the country, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has constituted a 6 member committee to develop procedural guidelines regarding the provisions outlined in the NMC Act concerning quackery.

The six-member committee headed by Dr Yogendra Malik, Member Ethics and Medical Registration Board of National Medical Commission (NMC) include members- Dr Brahmdeep Sandhu (CMO, Jhajjar), Dr Anupama Goal (Professor, NLU, Delhi), Dr Santhil (Member of PGMEB), Dr Mahesh Kumar K (Chairman, Telangana State medical council TSMC) and Ms Purnima Tudu (Deputy Secretary, EMRB) as the Convener.  

An office memorandum issued by the apex medical education regulator, on June 3rd stated, "In partial modification of the EMRB's order No. R-12013/03/2024-Ethics dated 24.05.2024, the composition of the Committee of Experts to frame procedural guidelines relating to provisions prescribed under Section 34 R/w Section 54 of the NMC Act, 2019 on Quackery."

Also read- Quackery Crackdown: Telangana State Medical Council Acts Against 55 Quacks

These committees, comprising experts in the field, have been tasked to create procedural guidelines related to the provisions mentioned in the NMC Act that address the issue of quackery. 

According to Section 34 of the NMC Act, one who is not enrolled in the State Register or the National Register is not entitled to sign or authenticate a medical or fitness certificate or any other certificate that is required by any law to be signed by a duly qualified medical practitioner or entitled to give evidence at any inquest or in any court of law as an expert under section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 on any matter relating to medicine.

''Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both,'' the Act stated.

Section 54 reads that no court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made on this behalf by an officer authorized by the Commission or the Ethics and Medical Registration Board or a State Medical Council, as the case may be.

Also read- Crackdown On Quacks: Telangana State Medical Council Seeks Permission To Appoint Vigilance Officers

In 2022, Medical Dialogues reported that taking a big step towards eliminating quackery in the country, the NMC directed all State Medical Councils to appoint an officer who can file complaints before a court or any other authority concerned to take action against quacks.