J&K Medical Council cracks down on unregistered practitioners
Srinagar, Dec 20: In a major step to protect public health, the J&K Medical Council (JKMC) on Friday issued a directive prohibiting private healthcare establishments from allowing unregistered doctors to practice or conduct any investigations or procedures.
The council warned that violations would result in strict punitive action under applicable laws.
The council has highlighted the rampant practice of unregistered medical professionals operating in private healthcare establishments across J&K.
This includes private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, clinical laboratories, and blood banks.
The notice states, “It has come to the notice of the J&K Medical Council that private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, clinical laboratories, blood banks located in J&K are allowing some practitioners to operate without having registration with the J&K Medical Council, which is against the rules.
The J&K Medical Council strongly urges all proprietors and Managing Directors of these establishments not to permit any doctor, whether from J&K or outside, to practice or perform any investigation, procedure, or surgery in their establishments without having permanent registration or additional qualification registration, as required, from the JKMC. Such actions violate the rules and constitute a serious breach of professional ethics and the code of conduct. The J&K Medical Council has taken serious note of this to safeguard human lives.”
The council further emphasised that proprietors and heads of private medical establishments must ensure that all doctors working under their purview acquire the necessary registration, the online provision for which was open.
The statement has been issued to “ensure the safety of human lives and not conduct any breach of professional conduct.”
Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action against medical professionals under the Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Regulations, 2002, it read.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, President of the J&K Medical Council, Dr S Mohammad Salim Khan acknowledged that this issue had been neglected for a long time.
He said that many doctors, including specialists, were found practising without the required additional qualification registration.
“It is now mandatory that any doctor treating patients in J&K must register with the J&K Medical Council. There have been instances of negligence where these doctors are not accountable or answerable to the council,” Dr Khan said.
He also underscored that the decision aims to address a lack of accountability, ensuring that all medical practitioners adhere to professional standards and are answerable to the governing body.
Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court dismissed a plea challenging the mandatory registration of all doctors with the Delhi Medical Council (DMC).
The court directed DMC to provide an online registration facility. JKMC has already kept the online registration viable.
The decision has garnered widespread support within the medical community.
A doctor said that J&K had become a "haven" for unregistered doctors, with some exploiting the system for “patient harvesting.”
Another practitioner remarked that most states and union territories in India already mandate local registration for doctors practising within their jurisdictions, but J&K had lagged in this aspect.
Concerns were also raised about practitioners from alternate systems of medicine venturing into allopathic practices without proper qualifications.
A member of the medical fraternity urged the council to extend its scrutiny to these instances as well, calling it a pressing issue that needs immediate attention.
The council’s directive aims to create a more regulated healthcare environment in J&K, prioritizing patient safety and professional accountability.
The online registration process through the official website simplifies compliance and ensures transparency in maintaining medical records.
