The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) seeking a defined policy on doctors who have been barred from practising medicine in their country but are now working in India.
The IMA wants the MCI to seek ‘good standing certificate’ from foreign doctors who want to work in India.
Indian-origin doctor
This move comes after the Delhi High Court took suo moto cognizance of news reports about an Indian-origin doctor who was barred from practising by a US court but is now treating patients in Delhi and Gurugram.
The court has directed Sanjeev Jain, Member Secretary of the Delhi State Legal Services Authority, to verify the name and address of the doctor, carry out a probe and file a report. It also issued a notice to the MCI to file a report on the mechanism in place to scrutinise and check such practices.
The next date of hearing is on May 15.
In his letter to the MCI, IMA chief Dr. K. K. Aggarwal said that any graduate or post graduate from India wishing to practice medicine in a foreign country is required to furnish a ‘good standing certificate’, which is issued by the MCI.
“This is to ensure that the practitioner has a good track record and there is nothing against him/her, especially with reference to ethical breech. A similar condition needs to be imposed on Indian doctors registered and practising in other countries who wish to come back and practice in India.”
Checks and balances
The IMA noted that the condition would apply to Indian students getting their MBBS, or equivalent course, outside the country and coming back for registration in India; foreign doctors asking for a temporary licence to practice; and Indian doctors seeking multiple registrations in different States.
“Before they are registered or re-registered in India, the doctors will have to furnish a good standing certificate. This will serve a similar purpose to the certificate issued by the MCI for Indian doctors seeking registration to practice medicine in foreign countries,” read the letter.
