Maharashtra Medical Council faces backlash for resolving only 2 complaints in 4 years

Mumbai: Only two complaints have been resolved by the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) out of 219 complaints filed against registered doctors over the past four years involving allegations of medical negligence, malpractice, issuance of fake certificates, and more, according to data shared by officials.

Between 2022 and August 2025, the MMC received a total of 219 complaints. In 2022, 66 complaints were received, but just two were addressed. The following year, 48 complaints were received, and none were resolved. In 2024, 75 complaints were filed, and another 30 were received in 2025, yet so far, no cases have been disposed of in the last two years.

This means that over the last four years, less than one percent of all complaints have been acted upon by the council, with the only two resolved cases dating back to 2022.

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The complaints against the doctors involve serious allegations, including medical negligence leading to patient deaths, overcharging for treatment, issuing false certifications, and substandard medical practices.

Criticising the council's inaction in the past years, an activist told Free Press Journal, “The council’s failure to act on such a large volume of complaints shows a widening gap between public expectations and institutional accountability. Patients deserve timely justice, but the system appears paralysed.”

Defending the council, MMC Administrator Dr Vinky Rughvani said, "The resolution of complaints is not an overnight process. There is a misconception that action can be taken immediately. Every complaint is examined under a quasi-judicial process. Doctors are given a fair opportunity to present their side, and only after hearing all parties is a final decision taken. The council receives about 60 to 70 complaints each year, which further adds to the backlog."

The council's slow process in addressing complaints against registered medical professionals has raised concerns over its ability to take effective action against quacks identified through the recently introduced QR code system aimed at curbing the menace of fake doctors in Maharashtra.

Medical Dialogues in February reported that the much-awaited 'Know Your Doctor', an exclusive and one-of-a-kind platform created to combat the growing menace of quacks in the state and ensure the highest standards of patient safety, was ultimately launched by the Maharashtra Medical Council. This innovative mobile application will allow patients to verify a doctor's credentials before seeking medical treatment.

The primary aim of the 'Know Your Doctor' platform is to establish a secure and transparent system that allows patients to verify the credentials of doctors. The KYD portal allows doctors to order a QR code-based plate for their practising premises only after linking their registration ID on the portal. After this, the patients can scan the QR code and know whether the doctor is a verified medical professional or just a quack.

Also read- Know Your Doctor: Maharashtra Medical Council to combat quackery with QR Codes