The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has emphasized the necessity for qualified healthcare practitioners and has called for stringent measures to combat quackery in modern medicine. This request is in response to a recent event that happened in Kottakadavu, Kozhikode, Kerala, involving a phony doctor. Boards, prescriptions, seals, and other professional materials must bear the medical council registration number and the doctor’s recognized degree, under medical council ethics regulations. The IMA’s reminder strives to underline the relevance of this law.
Dr. Joseph Benaven, the state president of IMA Kerala, emphasized that during appointments, hospital administrations and the government should confirm the legitimacy of certificates, council registrations, and prior employment histories of physicians and other medical personnel. He emphasized that there are already 33 medical institutions in Kerala, and every year more than 7,000 MBBS graduates—including those from overseas universities—register with the Medical Council. It is intolerable that situations involving the employment of phony doctors and incompetent workers are continuously being reported in spite of the availability of these skilled specialists.
Dr. Benaven emphasized the necessity of taking strong measures against those who engage in these kinds of activities. He went on to say that there should be harsh consequences for people from non-medical backgrounds who work in contemporary medical facilities. In order to guarantee patient safety, this declaration highlights the necessity of openness and adherence to appropriate medical qualifications.
The government and council must be prepared to take action against those engaged in unethical activities, such as teaching students from foreign universities without proper registration and giving paramedics patient care responsibilities, according to IMA state secretary Dr. K. Sasidharan. The IMA is pleading with the government to release an exhaustive and trustworthy list of all physicians registered with the Kerala Medical Council in order to uphold good standards in healthcare. Furthermore, a mechanism should be put in place to use the registration number to confirm this information on the Medical Council website.
The IMA also underlined how crucial it is for its branches and members to be vigilant in order to spot and take action against incompetent doctors and bogus degrees. The association is dedicated to making sure that individuals found guilty of these crimes are prosecuted and held accountable. These steps are meant to defend the public’s health from the risks posed by quackery and unlicensed practitioners while also preserving the integrity of the medical field.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA