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IMA seeks PMO intervention to expedite MMC elections
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
July 29 , 2016
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The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought the intervention of
Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to address the delay in conducting of
elections for the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) as its current
5-year term has ended on May 21, 2016. Following which the PMO has sent a
letter to the chief secretary, Maharashtra government to resolve the
issue at the earliest.
PMO has asked the Maharashtra government
to expedite notification of elections of MMC on which a writ petition
has also been filed by the IMA and MMC in the Bombay High Court (HC).
According
to an IMA official, the state government has also been directed by the
Bombay HC to file replies on the matter by July 29 to address
administrative issues at the earliest.
With delay in
notification of elections, administration of the council is currently
being run on an ad hoc basis by an ayurvedic doctor which is not in
accordance with the MMC Act. Compounding the problem further, the
registrar also holds an additional charge of Maharashtra Council of
Indian Medicine (MCIM) in contravention to the provisions of the MMC
Act.
IMA and MMC had petitioned a month ago to the HC about
putting in place a full time administrator/ registrar and also
notification of MMC elections by the state government in the same
petition.
MMC had also been writing to the state government to
notify elections urgently in accordance with the MMC Act to run its
administration in an effective manner but have not received any reply.
As
per the MMC Act, council members getting elected through a democratic
process will pave the way for appointment of a full time registrar with
prior consultation and approval of the state government.
According
to a senior official, appointment of the registrar in question was done
by the government unilaterally despite the fact that he holds
additional charge of registrar at MCIM apart from being an associate
professor at an Ayuverda college.
According to official sources,
the current appointment of an ayurvedic doctor by the state government
flouts two MMC laws which stipulates that a registrar can be appointed
only by elected MMC members in consultation with the government, and the
second, the registrar cannot hold any additional charge.
The MMC
is the state branch of the Medical Council of India (MCI) that
regulates ethical practices of allopathic doctors. Any doctor who wishes
to start practice has to first register with the MMC for a licence. The
MMC can cancel or suspend the licence if the doctor is found indulging
in any unethical practice. By taking care of medical cases, it also
ensures less burden on courts.
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