Delay in FIR against Fake Doctor: PMC Health Department issues show cause to Ward Medical Officer

Pune: Failing to take action on time against a fake doctor by filing an FIR, the health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently issued a show cause notice to the ward medical officer (WMO) of Hadapsar-Mundhwa asking to submit a satisfactory response within 2 days to avoid administrative action.  

According to the corporation, the WMO has been accused of deliberately delaying the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against an unqualified individual running a clinic in the ward, who did not possess the required qualifications or registration with the Medical Council, thus violating the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act of 1961.

Issuing a notice in this regard on Thursday, Dr Nina Borade, Health Chief of PMC said, "You are required to provide a written explanation within two days of receiving this letter regarding the intentional delay in filing an FIR and taking action against the bogus medical practitioner. If the explanation is found unsatisfactory or is not received within the stipulated time, administrative action will be taken against you under section 56(2) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act 1949."

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This comes after Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) enforced the Maharashtra Nursing Home Registration Act of 1949 in the merged village, however, an HT news report from September 30 highlighted that the civic body was not taking action against bogus doctors operating in these areas.

According to officials, the legal department of the PMC on July 26 opined that an FIR should be filed against a doctor found practising in Hadapsar-Mundhwa without requisite qualification and registration with the Medical Council in violation of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act 1961. Thereafter, the PMC Anti-Bogus Doctors’ Cell on August 13 directed the WMO of Hadapsar-Mundhwa to file an FIR against the bogus doctor. 

However, the WMO went on leave and later on September 4 submitted a letter stating that filing an FIR was not possible as the PMC had not yet taken full control of healthcare services in the merged villages, including Hadapsar-Mundhwa.

Speaking in this regard, Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer and in-charge of the PMC Anti-Bogus Doctors’ Cell told HT, "There seems to be a deliberate delay on the part of the WMO. The inspection and action against the bogus doctor have been pending for a long. The WMO is yet to respond to the notice and further action will be taken after his reply is received."

"After the WMO submitted the letter on September 4, the matter was referred to the PMC legal department which once again opined on September 30 that the WMO should go ahead and file the FIR against the quack. Following the legal department’s opinion to go ahead and file an FIR against the bogus doctor, orders were given on October 1 to the WMO to file an FIR. The officer was expected to file the FIR within seven days. However, the action was kept pending and the doctor took a transfer to a maternity home,” Dr Dighe added. 

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