Pune Homeopathic doctor booked for practicing without registered qualification

Pune: A Pune-based homeopathic doctor has landed in trouble after the Pune police booked him in the Lohegaon region for allegedly practicing medicine without registering with the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy (MCH).

The authorities at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) filed a complaint at the Vimantal police station, based on which an FIR was registered by the police last week against the doctor for violating the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961. The act disallows medical practice by doctors who are not registered. 

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The doctor practices at the Mayank Multi-Specilaity Clinic at Yojana Nagar in Lohegoan. After cross-checking the records at the MCH, the civic authorities found that the doctor was not registered. Subsequently, Dr Swatee Ghanwat, a ward medical officer at PMC, filed a complaint at the police station. 

When the health officials visited the hospital, they found a 25-year-old patient receiving an IV fluid from the doctor, whose statement was also recorded. 

Further, during the visit, the officials found a stock of allopathic injections and medicines. The doctor admitted that he was not registered with any of the four medical councils. Senior police inspector Vilas Sonde, attached to Vimantal police station, said, "He was found to be practicing without registration. Investigations are underway into the matter. No arrest has been made." 

In October last year, Dr Dilip Wange of the Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine registered a complaint with the taluka medical officer of Haveli alleging that the doctor was practicing medicine without being qualified for the same. The complaint was referred to the PMC as the area falls under its jurisdiction. A team consisting of the ward medical officer inspected the clinic on January 6, 2023. 

It was found that the doctor, who received his Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) from Madhya Pradesh, had registered with the Homeopathy Council of Madhya Pradesh in 2006 but had no records of registration with MCH. 

Following that, the health department asked the MCH to investigate if the doctor had an actual registration, after which it was found that he had neither applied for registration nor was he registered with the body. 

Based on this, the anti-bogus doctor committee examined the documents of the homeopath and passed an order to take action against him. Speaking to the Pune Mirror, the complainant said, "The action was taken after getting written orders from the PMC health department. We had visited the clinic twice, but he never bothered to apply for registration with the state homeopathy council. This also raises suspicion over the authenticity of his education qualification. The cops had also visited the clinic after the complaint."

Dr Kalpana Baliwant, assistant health officer Pune Municipal Corporation, said, "The FIR has been filed after confirming the registration with the council. A committee headed by the PMC commissioner looks into the complaints of bogus doctors. Necessary action is taken after scrutiny of facts following all the protocols." 

Speaking to TOI, Baliwant said, "We investigate all complaints received against doctors, practicing any kind of 'pathy' and initiate further action in case of lapses or missing documents. In the instant case, we have filed a complaint with the Airport police. Complaints regarding 'crosspathy' practices are taken up with the consumer courts." 

Meanwhile, the doctor refuted the allegations and stated that he has the required qualifications. He said, "I have been in Maharashtra for the last decade and have worked in several renowned hospitals. I completed my studies from Madhya Pradesh. I passed out in 2005 and registered with the medical council in Madhya Pradesh in 2006. The only problem is that I didn’t register myself with the MCH." 

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