IGNOU PGDCC practising as cardiologists, Telangana Medical Council initiates action, doctors reach court
Hyderabad: While the Telanagana Government is trying to tighten the noose around IGNOU PG medical diploma holders, who are allegedly posing as Super Specialists in illegal clinics, the doctors have recently moved to the court in this regard against the State Government's decision of not recognizing the "PG Diploma" degrees.
Approaching the court, these doctors have requested for permission to practice as MBBS doctors, reports Deccan Chronicle.
On the other hand, the Registrar of the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC), Dr. Hanumantha Rao has clarified that none of the councils recognize Diploma degrees granted by IGNOU because despite being medical subjects they are not taught in medical colleges attached to hospitals.
The issue emerged around two months ago when the State Medical Council in Telangana came to discover that a doctor, who was a PG Diploma holder in cardiology was running a clinic in Mancherial as he claimed to be a qualified cardiologist.
As per the latest media report by Deccan Chronicle, when the Council sought an explanation from the doctor, he in turn brought the matter in the notice of a national association of diploma holders. The association served medical council with a legal notice and approached the Courts in this regard. It has been claimed by the Association that on the basis of their degrees, they can open clinics and practice.
On the other hand, the Council has clarified its stand in this matter and stated that it does not accept PG Diplomas from IGNOU. The daily adds that the doctor in question has obtained his degree from IGNOU and addressing the matter, the Registrar of the medical council, Dr. Hanumantha Rao told the daily, "Diplomas granted by IGNOU are not recognised by any council because medical subjects should be taught only in medical colleges attached to hospitals. In addition to this, cardiology is classified as a super speciality. How can they get a degree in it with a diploma?"
Referring to this, Dr. Rao pointed out that even though Osmania University wished to commence diploma medical courses, the Council denied permission on similar grounds.
The controversy concerning PG Diploma degrees from IGNOU is not entirely new. Earlier, the erstwhile Apex medical body Medical Council of India had taken a similar stand regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, the Council is already engaged in a conflict with the Foreign medical graduates who are allegedly carrying out illegal practices in India as they are declaring themselves as MD degree holders when they are medical graduates from abroad.
Medical Dialogues had also reported about this issue when issuing a warning to the Foreign Medical Graduates practicing in Nalgonda district, the District Medical and Health Officer had clarified that the doctors should mention in their prescription pad only the degree which they actually own, or face stern action.
Such a direction was issued by the Office of the District Registering Authority after it took note of the fact that several foreign return doctors were claiming to be MD (Physicians) when they were only MBBS degree holders in reality.
The root cause of such a confusion is the fact that countries like Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine issues such degrees while terming them to be MDs.
While commenting on the matter, Dr. Rao clarified that FMGs need to clear Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in India and added, "The standard of education in colleges abroad is poor and such students struggle to clear the exam and resort to these devious methods."
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