DGHS to Handle Doctor Registrations in Delhi
New Delhi: The doctors' registration in Delhi will now be handled by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The move comes following the dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC).
Speaking to PTI, Health Minister Pankaj Singh informed, "The Delhi government has assigned the responsibility of doctors' registration in the national capital to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)."
"In light of the Lieutenant Governor's decision to dissolve the DMC, we have transferred its powers to the DGHS, which will now act as the registrar for doctors in Delhi," Singh said.
Medical Dialogues recently reported Lt Governor V K Saxena approved the proposal for the dissolution of the DMC after allegations of irregularities. He has also directed the health department to reconstitute the DMC within two months.
Singh said, "Any irregularities or corruption within the DMC -- whether procedural or financial -- will also be thoroughly investigated."
Officials from the health department had sent a proposal to Saxena seeking control of the body under Section 29 of the DMC Act, 1997.
The Delhi Medical Council is an autonomous statutory body enacted under the Delhi Medical Council Act 1997 to regulate the practice of the modern system of medicine in Delhi. DMC also ensures that private doctors in the city are following ethical practices.
It is the only statutory body in Delhi to handle complaints of medical negligence and professional misconduct in Delhi. The council comprises 25 members, including eight elected by around 100,000 registered allopathic doctors in the city, one by the 20,000-member Delhi Medical Association, 10 by medical college faculties, four government nominees, and two former officials.
Earlier, the Delhi Health Department had sent a proposal to L-G Saxena seeking control over the body under Section 29 of the DMC Act, 1997. The proposal recommended the dissolution of the council for a specified period.n the note to the Health Department, Saxena noted that the Delhi Medical Council had unilaterally extended the retirement age of the Registrar from 60 years to 65 years without government approval and further extended his term by one year from December 1, 2024.
The Delhi Medical Council, while responding to a showcause notice issued in February this year, said the concerned official had resigned with immediate effect but did not share further details, the LG note said.
Saxena noted that the council "exceeded" and "abused" the powers granted to it by the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997. He concurred with the proposal of the Health Department for the dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council.
L-G mentioned in the order, "Accordingly, I concur with the proposal of the Health Department for dissolution of Delhi Medical Council as approved by the Hon’ble Chief Minister."
He also directed that two ex-officio members of the Delhi Medical Council may continue in the Council, and DGHS may be assigned the responsibilities of Registrar for the intervening period.
