According to the reports in the media, the Delhi High Court issued notices on Friday to the Centre, Delhi Government, and Delhi Medical Council following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The PIL urges the authorities to conduct a thorough and time-bound verification of medical qualifications and educational certificates of all practitioners across the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, the media reports stated.
The bench, comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna,directed the Medical Council to ensure a tangible presence at the ground level, stating, "Some process of verification must be initiated. The public must know whether the individual is holding the degree or not."
Reportedly, the PIL highlights the unchecked rise of quackery in Delhi, exploiting the lax oversight and compromising the integrity of the State Medical Council. Allegations include the operation of unscrupulous practitioners without legitimate medical qualifications, endangering the lives of unsuspecting patients.
The urgency for court intervention stems from recent reports exposing a fake doctors' scam at a nursing home in Delhi's Greater Kailash area. The fraudulent activities led to the arrest of four individuals connected to the deaths of two patients who underwent surgeries at the clinic. Shockingly, technicians posed as doctors, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The petition, representing five individuals, including a 6-year-old disabled child, seeks not only a time-bound verification process but also the establishment of a High Powered Committee. The committee, comprising retired judges and independent members, would monitor the re-verification of doctors, ensuring fairness, ethics, and transparency, the report added.
Furthermore, the plea calls for an independent investigation into the functioning of the Delhi Medical Council by agencies like the CBI. This is in response to the alleged malpractice of granting fake registrations and shielding unqualified doctors, as outlined in the petition.
The PIL, filed by Advocates Sachin Jain, Ajay Kumar Aggarwal, and Sukrit Seth, amplifies the growing concern over medical malpractice and emphasises the critical need for accountability and transparency within the healthcare system.