Telangana: Corporate Hospital organises meeting for RMPs, faces medical council Wrath

Hyderabad: Organising a program for Rural Medical practitioners ( RMPs) has proven costly for a corporate hospital here after the  Telangana State Medical Council on Friday sought an explanation from Continental Hospital, Gachibowli for allegedly organizing a calendar release programme of "quacks" within hospital premises.

Writing to the Hospital administration including the superintendent of the hospital, Telangana State Medical Council clarified that such an act on behalf of the hospital was unethical as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019 and asked the hospital to submit an explanation within a week.

The Council has taken this action after receiving a complaint in this regard from the President of the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), Dr. Mahesh Kumar K. Complaining about this issue via e-mail, HRDA had referred to the flyers by an association of self-proclaimed rural medical practitioners (RMP) and private medical practitioners.

RMPs and PMPs are common in the State, however, most of them practice as doctors without the required qualifications. One association namely, Telangana Rural Practitioners Samiti (TRPS), recently arranged their Annual calendar release programme at the Continental Hospital, Gachibowli on January 9, 2023.

This angered the allopathy doctors practicing in state who wrote the TSMC against the event further drawing a response from the council.

Referring to the complaint mail of HRDA dated January 6, 2023, the Chairman of TSMC Dr. V. Rajalingam mentioned in the letter, "This is to inform to you that Telangana State Medical Council received a complaint from Health Care Reforms on 06-01-2023 that unqualified persons practicing medicine planning to celebrate 16th Annual Calendar Inauguration in your hospital on 09-01-2023. According to Under Section 34 R/w Section 54 of the NMC Act, 2019, which comes under un-ethical Act. I am herewith enclosing the pamphlet for inauguration of Calendar for unqualified persons for your perusal."

"I am herewith enclosing the copy of the circular issued by the National Medical Commission, New Delhi for your perusal. Expecting your explanation within a week," further mentioned the letter dated 06.01.2023.

In his complaint via email, HRDA President had sought necessary action on Continental Hospital for encouraging "quacks". The complaint mail stated, "We he members of HRDA here by bringing to your kind notice that continental hospital is organizing a calendar release of quacks program within hospital premises that too in Doctors conference hall as an act of soliciting and touting."

The email further mentioned, "Please take necessary action on the management of continental hospital."

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Medical Dialogues had last year reported that HRDA had demanded strict action to eradicate quackery from the state. The association had earlier urged the authorities to form committees for inspection to find out unqualified medical practitioners.

Posing a threat to the sanctity of the medical profession and at the same time diabolically playing with the lives of the susceptible public, quackery is a growing menace in the country which keeps on mushrooming year after year. Under the facade of attractive advertisements and false qualifications claims, miscreants dupe vulnerable patients, not only in their own operated joints but in noted hospitals as well.

Last year in July, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC had directed all the State Medical Councils to ensure enforcement of the provisions prescribed under Section 34 read with Section 54 of the NMC Act, 2019.

"In order to enforce the aforementioned provisions prescribed under Section 34 read with Section 54 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, all Medical Councils shall appoint an officer to file complaints before the Court or any other concerned authority to take appropriate action against quacks as per law. Further, the State Medical Councils shall furnish an annual report to the Commission in this regard," NMC Ethics Board had mentioned in its circular dated 14.07.2022.

''The court will take cognizance of an offense punishable under section 54 of the NMC Act 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,'' the circular had further stated.

Section 34 in the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 reads:

1) No person other than a person who is enrolled in the State Register or the National Register, as the case may be, shall--

(a) be allowed to practice medicine as a qualified medical practitioner;

(b) hold office as a physician or surgeon or any other office, by whatever name called, which is meant to be held by a physician or surgeon;

(c) be entitled to sign or authenticate a medical or fitness certificate or any other certificate required by any law to be signed or authenticated by a duly qualified medical practitioner;

(d) be 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 (1 of 1872) on any matter relating to medicine:

Provided that the Commission shall submit a list of such medical professionals to the Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed.

Provided further that a foreign citizen who is enrolled in his country as a medical practitioner in accordance with the law regulating the registration of medical practitioners in that country may be permitted temporary registration in India for such period and in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.

(2) 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.

Section 54 reads that no court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made in 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:Quackery Crackdown: NMC directs State Medical Councils to appoint officers for taking action against quacks