Why Was the Delhi Medical Council Dissolved?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Medical Council dissolved due to financial irregularities.
- Registration process for doctors will be managed by the Director of Health Services.
- Concerns raised about harassment of recent MBBS graduates.
- DMC's failure to regulate effectively led to this significant action.
- New measures will be implemented to restore integrity in medical practices.
New Delhi, May 16 (NationPress) In a decisive move to combat financial irregularities within the medical regulatory body, the Delhi government has officially dissolved the Delhi Medical Council, as stated by Delhi Health and Family Welfare Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Friday.
The DMC is tasked with overseeing the practice of medicine across the city.
During a press briefing, the Minister disclosed that the registration of new doctors had been hindered due to various deficiencies in the Council's operations, leading to its dissolution under Section 29 of the Medical Council Act, 1997.
"Considering the identified lapses, the decision has been made to dissolve the DMC. Until a new council is established, the registration process for doctors will be supervised by the Director of Health Services," noted Pankaj Singh.
According to the Minister, the DMC allegedly attempted to endorse the registration of doctors who were under investigation for complaints.
He also highlighted that recent MBBS graduates had voiced concerns regarding harassment during the registration process.
The DMC's role includes ensuring ethical practices among doctors and addressing concerns related to patient safety. It keeps a record of qualified medical professionals in the city.
Additionally, the DMC is mandated to prevent quacks from operating clinics, ensuring standards are upheld and fraudulent activities by medical practitioners are curbed.
In the past, MBBS graduates and other medical professionals reported challenges in having their names registered with the DMC due to the vacancy in the registrar's position.
This staff shortage compelled DMC President Arun Gupta to assume the authority to issue registration numbers to newly qualified medical graduates.
Last month, the Council informally resolved to delegate the registrar's powers to the President and authorized him to approve all pending applications from medical professionals.
The lack of a registrar has also hindered attempts by medical students from other states to secure approval before commencing their medical practice in Delhi, according to an official source.
A non-functional DMC has also posed challenges for Delhi doctors intending to migrate to other states for practice, he added.
Even medical undergraduates are struggling to obtain provisional certificates, he stated.
The former registrar of DMC, Girish Tyagi, was removed from his position in February for unlawfully retaining his role.
In February, the Delhi government issued a show-cause notice to the DMC regarding irregularities and mandated it to rectify the identified shortcomings.