25 Bangalore medical college doctors suspended for private practice

Days after state medical education minister SA Ramdas revealed that medical colleges were ‘buying’ patients to satisfy Medical Council of India (MCI) norms for minimum number of patients, here is another shocker. Most of the faculties appointed at medical colleges were either working at private clinics or even running them.

The MCI recently carried out surprise inspections at medical colleges across the country and suspended 25 professors. Of these, three were from colleges in Karnataka.

The doctors have been identified as Dr Chitgopekar Vijay (radio diagnosis), Dr Manjunath BV (radio diagnosis) and Dr Lokesh (anaesthesiology). However, MCI did not reveal the names of the colleges they were working in. The MCI has recommended to the state medical council to remove these doctors name from the Indian Medical Directory and state medical directory for at least four years.

The MCI found that these professors were irregular at colleges and were engaged in ‘personal’ work during the college hours. According to MCI officials, those suspended were running private clinics and practicing in private hospitals even during college hours.

“Those suspended were not present at the colleges during the visit and it was found through the attendance register that they were irregular and used to sign the register once a month and draw salaries,” said an MCI member, on condition of anonymity.

The MCI crackdown revealed that most cases of such violations were in Tamil Nadu. Apart from Karnataka, professors in Maharashtra, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were other prime violators. As per the MCI norms, those who have been appointed as professors at medical colleges are not allowed to run a private clinic or work at any private hospital.