Controversy erupts over Homeopath's Sanjeev Gautam appointment to Punjab Medical Council

Chandigarh: A controversy has arisen within the medical community regarding the appointment of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjeev Gautam to the Punjab Medical Council (PMC) who have expressed doubts about the government's decision to nominate a homoeopath to a council for medical practitioners.

Members of the Punjab Medical Council have pointed out that only registered medical practitioners with the council can be appointed as members. They said since Sanjeev holds a diploma in homoeopathic medical sciences from the Rajasthan board, he cannot become a member of the council.

According to the PMC Act, Section 6, “No person shall be eligible to be a member of the council unless he is a registered practitioner under the PMC Act.”

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Some doctors including the Punjab Chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have criticised and questioned the government's decision to nominate a homoeopath to a council when the nominated candidate is not a registered medical practitioner.

They argue that the decision to appoint a unregistered medical practitioner to the council violates PMC's eligibility criteria which will set a concerning precedent for future appointments. In addition, they insist on the appointment being reversed, otherwise they will take legal action.

Speaking to HT, Punjab IMA president Sunil Katyal said, “This sets a wrong precedent. If the government wanted to adjust him, they should have appointed him to the homoeopaths’ council."

Former IMA national vice-president Dr Navjot Dahiya said, “The PMC is a prominent institution in the medical field. Appointments here must be based solely on merit and in compliance with the PMC Act. If the decision is not revoked, we will move court.”

“There are 15 members in the council, of which 10 are elected and five are nominated. The tenure of one of the nominated members had been over, after which the government was to appoint a new member. But the government seems to have committed a faux pas." Dr Dahiya informed The Tribune.

As per HT reports, Gautam, who ran as an AAP candidate in the 2017 assembly elections for the Anandpur Sahib constituency but was unsuccessful, reportedly practices as a registered homoeopath. On February 26, the Chief Minister’s Office approved his appointment, along with the appointments of other party members, to various boards and corporations.

When asked about the matter, a senior functionary of the health department said, “We are in the process of discussing the appointment with the officials who cleared the file nominating Gautam as a member of the PMC.”

Meanwhile, Gautam told HT, “The government approved my appointment recently. I am yet to go through the PMC Rules.”

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