MP launches credential verification after 12 fake doctors found in Sanjeevani clinics

Bhopal: Amid growing concerns over the identification of 12 alleged fake doctors working at Sanjeevani clinics across nine districts of Madhya Pradesh, the state Health and Medical Education Department has launched a comprehensive verification drive to scrutinise the credentials of doctors employed in government healthcare centres.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that authorities investigating the fake MBBS degree scam linked to Sanjeevani clinics operating under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Damoh have now traced the alleged mastermind behind the racket.

Also Read:Fake MBBS Degree Racket: Police arrest alleged mastermind from Bhopal

According to the news reports, documents of newly recruited medical professionals will also undergo mandatory verification in the coming days. To expedite the process, the state government is preparing to establish a high-level committee comprising representatives from the higher education department, the health and medical education department, and the Madhya Pradesh Medical Council. The committee will oversee the verification of medical degrees and professional certificates submitted by healthcare workers.

At present, the credentials of contractual doctors are verified by the Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) of the respective districts. However, the recent revelations have exposed shortcomings in the system, as the alleged fake doctors reportedly remained undetected for more than a year.

According to the Daily Jagran, the relevant universities did not take any concrete action on time, leading to a delay in the verification process, the report added. The health department has issued a notice to the CMHOs, asking them to respond within a time frame. The degrees of all contract doctors, including those posted at Sanjeevani clinics across the state, are being verified in phases.

Officials believe the ongoing investigation could uncover additional cases of fraudulent medical practitioners.

The National Health Mission (NHM) revealed that the credentials of 81 doctors were reviewed after three fake doctors were initially identified in Damoh district. The department has since intensified its efforts to ensure that only qualified and verified professionals are allowed to practice in government healthcare facilities.

Also Read:MP: 3 arrested for allegedly posing as doctors using forged MBBS degrees