Employed in More than One Medical College

LIST OF TEACHERS CLAIMING EMPLOYMENT AS MEDICAL TEACHERS IN MORE THAN ONE MEDICAL COLLEGE AND WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED TEMPORARILY FROM INDIAN MEDICAL REGISTER

MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA
Aiwan-E-Galib Marg, Kotla Road,
Opp. Mata Sundari College (for Women), Near ITO
New Delhi-110002

Over a period of last 1-2 years by considering the inspection reports of various medical colleges seeking permissions/renewals under Section 10A of the Act, it was felt and observed that a large number of doctors are claiming employment as medical teachers in more than one medical college at the same time. It was being observed that the names of the doctors shown as medical teachers in a particular medical college were getting repeated in the inspection reports of certain other medical colleges, in the same proximity of time.

Apparently, the medical colleges and the medical teachers were indulging in such activities only to show to the inspection team of the Council that the colleges concerned are fulfilling the minimum requirement for the teaching staff for seeking permissions/renewals under Section 10A of the Act.

The Council, therefore, to curb such unscrupulous tendencies, started adopting methods in this regard. Declaration forms were introduced to be signed by the doctors claiming employment as medical teachers in any given medical college and that they also remain present along with their declaration forms, at the time of the conduct of the inspection of that college.

Subsequently, a provision for endorsement by the Dean/Principal of the medical college was also introduced in the declaration forms to make this requirement more efficient and effective by stating that in the event of any declaration made by a particular medical teacher turns out to be untrue and incorrect, the Dean/Principal of the college putting signatures as endorsement of the truthfulness of the statement made in the declaration would also be held responsible in that event.

Needless to state that the Council has always tried to improve in this regard for ensuring that such misdeclarations / misstatements are completely eliminated or minimized to the extent possible with the clear perception that the Council should take appropriate action against such erring doctors whenever it is found that the particular doctor has furnished more than one declaration forms towards claiming teaching employment in any medical college when such a doctor has already furnished similar declaration for claiming employment as medical teacher in certain other medical colleges at the same point of time.

This problem has engaged attention of the Council continuously during the last 1-2 years. The cases have also been considered by the Ethics Committee of the Council. Whenever it has been found that a particular doctor is claiming employment as medical teacher at the same point of time in more than one medical colleges, show cause notices had been issued seeking their replies. They were given due opportunities to present their explanation before the Ethics Committee.

At its meeting held on 12.10.2004, before the General Body, cases of such misdeclarations and misstatement by the medical teachers have been placed for consideration. The Ethics Committee of the Council, after granting opportunity of being heard to all of these doctors, has recommended imposition of punishment of removal of their names from the Indian Medical Register maintained by the Council.

This issue was considered by the General Body of the Council with all required seriousness. Undoubtedly, such kind of misconduct is much more serious than the alleged negligence in cases of treating the patients by doctors. Such misdeclarations/ misstatements are made to cause deception not only to the Council but also on the Central Govt. for extracting permissions/renewals under Section 10A of the Act.

The worst part is that ultimately it is those innocent students who get admissions in such medical colleges where the minimum required medical teachers are shown only in such a dubious manner, causes irreparable prejudice to the fair interests of those students and further also to the patients who may be treated by such half-baked students who would not get their exposure and training with the minimum required number of medical teachers available to them.

The General Body was clearly of the view that such a tendency has to be completely eliminated and not only curbed. The situation does not brook any lenience in this regard and deserves to be dealt with a heavy hand. No doctor should ever be allowed to make such false declaration and get away with it. Timely efficient action in this regard is the need of the hour. It should also act as an effective deterrent so that others who are getting tempted to indulge into such activities should feel reluctant to do so.

The Council, therefore, without any ambiguity unanimously decided as under:-

The names of the following teachers be erased temporarily upto 31st July, 2007.

He/She will not be eligible to be counted as a teacher at the inspections to be carried out by MCI for the academic years 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The names of all such teachers be published on the website and a circular be sent to all the Directors of Medical Education of all the States, all the Universities and all the Medical Colleges/Institutions.

It was further decided that in case of non-medical teachers who is not possessing a medical degree or a registration certificate, he/she will not be eligible to be counted as a teacher at the inspections to be carried out by MCI for the academic years 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The Council further decided that a circular be issued to all the D.M.Es., Universities and Medical Colleges/Institutions that the list of such defaulting teachers has been published on the website of the Council. it was further decided that this decision would be applicable mutatis mutandis to all the teachers who have been found employed more than one medical college for the academic year 2003-04 and whose case has not been finalized as yet due to non-appearance or any other reason.

SD/
(Lt. Col.(Dr.) A R N Setalvad (Retd.))
Secretary