News & Views dated 06.05.2016
IMA Hoshiarpur congratulates three of its members on their promotion :
You will be pleased to know that Dr. Rimpy Purewal has joined as ACS, Hoshiarpur while Dr. Rajinder Raj is DFPO Hoshiarpur and Dr. Sewa Singh is DHO Hoshiarpur. Congratulations to all the three.
SC recalls NEET decision: Orders Single Test:
The Apex court has recalled its July 2013 order and has ordered a single NEET test for admission in MBBS and post graduate courses. It ordered that all the medical colleges in the country whether state owned or in private sector, will make admissions in MBBS and in post graduate courses through a single test. The move has been welcome widely. It may be recalled here that a bench in 2013 headed by Chief Justice Almadi, who was to demit office that day, had struck down single NEET test. A revision petition was preferred by MCI and the Union Govt. Now a constitutional bench of five judges has given its verdict. The test will be held in two phases and the combined result will be out in mid August . The process of completion of admission will be over by 30th September’2016. This move will help lacs of students who run from place to place to appear in the tests and the parents from the financial burden. This test will also stop selling of the medical seats to the rich and affluent class at the cost of deserving students. The phase I of NEET has been conducted successfully and phase II NEET will be held on 16th July, only for those students who had not applied for AIPMT. Those students who failed to appear in Phase I will not be allowed to appear in Phase II.
MCI working to be overlooked by a high powered committee :
Medical Council of India, who was in news for not been up to the mark in conducting admissions in medical colleges and had miserably failed to perform its duty came under attack from the Supreme Court of India. While criticizing its style of working, the Apex Court appointed a high powered committee headed by Retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice RN Lodha to look after its working. Justice Lodha will be assisted by Dr. SK Sarin, the renowned Hepatologist and Sh. Vinod Rai, the retired Comptroller & Audit General of India. All the decisions of the MCI will be routed through this committee. In this very order, the Central Govt. has been asked to make necessary amendments for efficient & transparent working of MCI within three months. You will recall that even a committee of Rajya sabha had also criticized the MCI for its working and this was reported in these columns a couple of months back.The Supreme Court intends overhauling all the professional councils in near future.
Ayush doctors cannot practice modern scientific medicines :
According to a major decision by Delhi High Court, practitioners of Indian systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Tibb and Unani, cannot practice modern scientific medicine, including prescribing allopathic medicines. The verdict came on a public interest litigation filed by the Delhi Medical Association (DMA).. The Delhi high court has asked the central council of medicines to restrict to its domain. The order said that the Ayush doctors can only utilize modern diagnostic aids like laboratory tests and ultrasound scanning but cannot prescribe allopathic medicines. Indian Medical Association has welcome the decision. The court has asked Delhi Medical Council and MCI to take action against those Ayush doctors who are using allopathic medicines.
Govt. plans extending MTP upto 24 week of pregnancy:
The Central Govt. is thinking to amend 45 years old MTP Act 1971 which allows surgical abortions upto 20 week of pregnancy. Govt. is of the view that because of newer techniques to detect congenital anomalies and in certain cases of rape or widows, the time limit of 20 week is short and it may be extended upto 24 week of pregnancy. It may be pertinent to mention here that some congenital anomalies especially of the heart can be diagnosed at 22-24 week of pregnancy and because of the existing law, even the level II fetal well being scan is being done before 20 week of pregnancy.
No cure, no payment is not permitted in medical profession?
All members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) are advised not to indulge in “No Cure No Payment” or “Guarantee any cure” as both are violations of Medical Council of India (MCI) Code of Ethics Regulations as well as Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. Recently, a division bench of Justices SC Dharmadhikari and GS Kulkarni at the Bombay High Court has refused to grant interim relief to a doctor couple running an IVF clinic at Colaba, whose licenses were suspended by Maharashtra Medical Council for three months following complaints that they made promises of guaranteed pregnancy on their clinic website and even offered refund if the treatment failed. The complaint was made by the Advertising Standards Council of India, in 2014. The Code of Ethics prevents the medical doctors to seek patients directly or indirectly by boasting himself/herself of a specialty he/she does not possess or makes false claims of the treatment or cure while The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 prohibits the physicians to make any claims or guaranteed cure or claims to prevent or cure sterility in women.
DCI plans for bridge course for dentists to work as MBBS doctors.:
Dental Council of India is planning a bridge course for dentists who then can work as MBBS doctors. This plan has been thought of to decrease the unemployment of BDS doctors. DCI is of the view that out of 24 subjects, 16 subjects are common for BDS and MBBS and by offering the bridge course these 8 subjects can be taught. After finalizing the modality, DCI proposes to discuss it with MCI and if approved will be forwarded to the Health department for consideration. The President DCI feels that these measures will give double benefit; one the unemployment in dentists will decrease two there will be better health facilities to the public at large.
Compiled by
Dr. Ashwani K Juneja
Vice President cum Member News & Views Committee
IMA Hoshiarpur