Health Bulletin 08/ April/ 2025 - Video

The issue of a legal framework to deal with medical negligence cases was recently raised before the Lok Sabha. In this regard, the Health Ministry was asked about the possibility of any plans to introduce a clear legal framework to differentiate between medical negligence and unintended medical errors or provide any guidelines to adjudicate medical negligence cases.

While addressing the related queries, the Union Minister of Health for State stated that any complaint of professional misconduct by Registered Medical Practitioners can be brought before the appropriate Medical Council for disciplinary action as per the provisions under the Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Regulations 2002 framed under National Medical Commission (NMC), 2019.

Doctors in West Bengal must earn a minimum of 30 Credit hours in 5 years by attending seminars and conferences to renew their license registration. A recent notice issued by the West Bengal Medical Council, dated 04.04.2025, has specified that without earning '30 hours point' of Credit hours in 5 years, the doctors will not be considered eligible for updating their registration.

"This is to notify that all doctors registered under West Bengal Medical Council must get minimum of “30 hours point” of Credit hours in a period of 5 years, without which they will not be eligible for updating their registration. This will come in to effect from this day onwards," stated the notice, issued by the Council.

To realise its plans of enhancing the number of seats in government medical colleges in the State, the Karnataka Government has submitted a proposal to the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking permission for 800 more MBBS and 700 more postgraduate medical seats.

Confirming this, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, the Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development, told The Hindu that the request to NMC has been made in light of the high demand for clinical courses.

The Bijnor district court has sentenced three doctors to five years in prison for medical negligence that led to the death of a pregnant woman at Anmol Health Care Centre in the Chandpur area. The trio, including a female physician, was also slapped with a fine of Rs 60,500 each.

The incident, which occurred in August 2023, highlights a tragic instance of healthcare malpractice. According to the FIR, the victim, a resident of Ladoopura, was admitted to the Anmol Health Care Centre in Chandpur after experiencing labour pains. Her husband reported to the police that his wife underwent a surgical procedure to deliver a baby girl. However, following the surgery, her condition deteriorated due to excessive bleeding.