Panvel Municipal Corporation Cracks Down On Quack Doctors; Verification Drive Launched Across City

Panvel: In a decisive move to curb medical malpractice, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated action against bogus doctors operating within its jurisdiction.

The campaign targets unregistered or fraudulently practicing medical professionals in areas including Kharghar, Taloja, Kalamboli, Kamothe, and Panvel.

Private Medical Associations Submit Documents for Vetting

Information and relevant documents such as medical council registration certificates, degree qualifications, and biomedical waste disposal certificates have been submitted by private medical associations to the corporation for verification.

Ward-Level Committees to Lead Field Verification

To streamline the operation, PMC has formed ward-level committees comprising ward officers, chief sanitation inspectors, and medical officers from primary health centers. "These teams will conduct thorough checks of documents submitted by practitioners to determine their legitimacy," said the officer.

Unregistered Practitioners to Face Legal Action

Doctors found to be practicing without valid registrations from recognized councils including the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), Medical Council of Indian Medicine (MCIM), Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy (MCH), and Maharashtra Dental Council (MDC) will be declared quacks and reported to the nearest police station for further legal action.

ASHA and Health Workers Mobilised for Document Collection

In addition, health workers and ASHA workers from municipal primary health centers have been instructed to collect documents from local private practitioners. "Those practitioners whose documents are still pending submission have been urged to submit them to Dr. Suresh Pandit, Medical Officer," said an official.

PMC Urges Medical Community to Cooperate with Drive

Private medical practitioners are appealed to cooperate fully with the authorities to ensure the success of the campaign aimed at safeguarding public health and weeding out fraudulent medical practices.

The crackdown comes under the directives of Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale and guidance of Deputy Commissioner Prasannjit Karlekar. The corporation's Medical Health Department will lead the drive, confirmed Dr. Anand Gosavi, Medical Health Officer.