SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 30: The Jharkhand State Medical Council (JSMC) has put a ban on the display of degrees by registered practitioners of modern scientific medicine (doctors) on a signboard that is not recognized by the medical college monitoring body of the country’s National Medical Commission (NMC).
An attention letter issued by the Jharkhand State Medical Council in this regard has instructed all doctors of the state and said, “All registered practitioners of scientific medicine are hereby advised not to display any degree/ qualification which is not recognized by Medical Council of India/ National Medical Commission”.
Jharkhand State Medical Council member secretary- cum-registrar Dr Bimlesh Kumar Singh, giving this information, today said that it has been seen that several doctors display signboards claiming to be specialists/super specialists in a branch without special qualifications in that branch. “ That is not only illegal but also unethical. Any claimed speciality/expertise must be backed by a special qualification in that branch, recognized by MCI / NMC,” he said.
He further said that it has been found that some medicos after completing house surgeonship display degrees on signboards as General Surgeon, General Physician while some write cardiologist, nephrologist, urologist and others.
Moreover, the doctors who return to India after completing courses in Russia, Ukraine and other countries write themselves MDs but most of them have not got recognition from the NMC. “Such display of fake degrees and false claims to be specialist on signboard mislead patients in crisis. So, a new committee of the Jharkhand State Medical Council has resolved to ban it in the interest of all,” he said.
The JSMC has also warned the doctors who display fake degrees (not recognized by the National Medical Commission) to take the notice seriously and violation of it will entail disciplinary/ penal action.
Dr Bimlesh Kumar Singh said the JSMC would also set up a special squad to check such signboards of doctors across the state. “If the signboard degree of any doctor is found fake, his practice can be banned and a recommendation would be sent for cancellation of his registration,” he said.