The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), the governing body for doctors across the state, has the power to suspend the licence of doctors who are found guilty of malpractices. MMC maintains records of registrations of doctors, and without such registration no allopathic doctor can practice in the state.
More than a dozen doctors from across Maharashtra have been summoned recently by the Maharashtra Medical Council over complaints from the state's Health department for violation of Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. But action against these doctors is hampered by the continual absence of Health department officials during hearings against these doctors, because of which MMC has to postpone the hearings to some other date.
The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), the governing body for doctors across the state, has the power to suspend the licence of doctors who are found guilty of malpractices. MMC maintains records of registrations of doctors, and without such registration no allopathic doctor can practice in the state.
The main objective of PCPNDT is prohibition of sex selection. Also, the regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques for detection of genetic abnormalities, by restricting their use to registered institutions.
After the recent incident at Beed, where two doctors were found to have carried out illegal abortion after sex selection, the government officials had strengthened their system to keep track of such doctors who are involved in sex selection.
Whenever PCPNDT cell gets the tip off about violation of the law, they raid the clinic concerned, and take legal action like sealing the machine and forwarding the case to MMC which then takes legal action against the doctor. This legal action comes after a hearing at which officials from PCPNDT cell and MMC are present.
Dr Kishor Taori, President, Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) said, “After we (recently) got the list from PCPNDT cell, we summoned the doctors mentioned in the list for a hearing. But some representative from the PCPNDT cell should be present at the hearing. Without them, we cannot hear the case and have to keep it pending. This is a serious issue, the health department should take cognisance of it and ask the officers to be present at such hearings.”
IA Kundan, Commissioner, Family Welfare Department, said, “We are looking into this matter. It is a serious issue. But there are some concerns about legality of MMC holding hearings once the matter has been sent them for action as per the PCPNDT act. Until this issue is sorted, proper dispensation of cases will be ensured.”
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