MCI quizzes 300 docs, scrutiny of documents underway

After the completion of quizzing of about 300 doctors, including 20 from Bihar, by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the process for scrutiny of their documents by the council is now underway.

The doctors in question are suspected to have accepted gundue favours' from a pharmaceutical company based in western India. The interrogation of the last batch of the doctors had taken place on December 16 last.

A highly placed source in the MCI told HT on Monday that after examining their documents submitted by them and investigating the charges levelled against them, the ethics committee of the council would prepare a final list of gerrant doctorsh and send it to respective state councils of medical registration suggesting action.

The source said the entire process of investigation would have been completed by the first week of the current month, but the matter was delayed owing to the MCI's other pressing engagements, including inspection of various medical colleges in the country.

The source, however, said the council had taken the matter very seriously and would try to bring it to the logical end by January-end or the first week of February.

When contacted, chairman of the ethics committee of the Bihar Council of Medical Registration (BSMR), Dr Amar Kant Jha 'Amar' said after receiving the list, his committee would initiate action against guilty doctors as per MCI guidelines.

BSMR ethics committee member Dr Sunil Kumar Singh said the committee was very sensitive to such issues and would not spare any doctor found guilty of violating the MCI's code of ethics. He, however, said, "The committee would initiate action only when it was satisfied with the allegations levelled against the doctors."

According to complaints received by the MCI, the doctors in question accepted huge amount of cash, costly gifts in terms of cars and luxury flats and enjoyed free national and international trips along with their families.

In lieu of these, they allegedly prescribed products of a particular company, which were much costlier than other better known brands of reputed firms.

As per code of medical ethics (professional conduct, etiquette and ethics), a registered medical practitioner shall not receive any gift from any pharmaceutical and allied health care industry and their sales people or representatives.

The practitioner is also not supposed to accept any travel facility inside the country or outside.

Also, the doctors shall not accept any hospitality like accommodation for self or family members from pharmaceutical firms under any pretext.