Inquiry report on Delhi Medical Council submitted
New Delhi: The committee set up to investigate the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has submitted its report to the Government, The New Indian Express has reported. Officials have confirmed that after weeks of hearings and scrutiny of documents, the panel handed over the report on Thursday.
A five-member inquiry panel was established by the Health Department last month following a series of complaints against the Medical Council. One of these charges was extending the retirement age of the DMC registrar from 60 to 65 years without the approval of the Government and granting a further one-year extension of tenure from December 1, 2024.
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.
Back in February, the Government warned of dissolution if the council failed to resolve its "systemic irregularities".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.
Also Read: Delhi Medical Council dissolved on orders of LG
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Delhi Government had sent the proposal amid allegations of mismanagement and irregularities in the functioning of the Council. In its note recommending the dissolution, the department had accused the Council of overstepping its authority and misusing powers granted under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Health Department tasked the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to oversee the functions of the Council until a new body is formed. Back in June, acting on the recommendations made by the Delhi Government, the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) dissolved the DMC, citing serious lapses.
Last month, the five-member panel was set up to investigate the irregularities in the Delhi Medical Council (DMC). As per the Health Department's order dated July 4, the committee had been asked to submit its findings by July 15, Hindustan Times had reported.
As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, the inquiry was led by Dr. Digvijay Dutta, the Medical Superintendent of Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, with Dr. Vivek Kumar and three senior officials from the health department as members. For almost a month, the committee examined the records and quizzed those linked to the decisions before finalising its report.
The proceedings by the panel were largely held at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, where the officials connected with the case were called in for an interview.
The final report has now been submitted to the Government, and the report is now expected to guide the government's next course of action. However, the officials have not disclosed the content of the report.
Commenting on this, a senior official told Hindustan Times, "The committee has submitted its findings. Appropriate steps will be taken after due consideration."
