Soon, app to fight fake docs

MUMBAI: In response to the growing concern about unqualified practitioners in the medical field, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) is developing a mobile application to verify the credentials of registered medical practitioners in the state. The app, named “Know Your Doctor,” will provide easy access to crucial information about their healthcare providers.

Dr Vinky Rughwani, Administrator of MMC, emphasised the need for such a tool, stating, “There have been several news reports on bogus doctors, and it is a major challenge. The app will help patients verify if the doctor they are visiting is qualified.”

MMC, a quasi-judicial body responsible for regulating medical education and ethics in the state, oversees approximately 1.8 lakh registered doctors, with around 9,000 new registrations annually. Dr Rughwani highlighted the uniqueness of the app, stating, “It will be a unique app in the country, and no council has attempted this before.

With the widespread use of smartphones, even in rural areas, we aim to empower patients with information on their doctors.”

While the MMC cannot directly take action against fraudulent practitioners, Dr Rughwani said through the app, the council will give recognition to the registered practitioners and would guide patients to ensure they do not seek treatment from unregistered or unqualified individuals. “We are in the process of streamlining the standard operating procedure for registered doctors,” he added. Dr Rughwani, who took over as MMC’S administrator two weeks ago, said while they are fast-tracking the work on getting the app, the council will also be clearing 692 pending complaints. “Most of the cases are of medical negligence. We have decided to get help from medical experts from the respective fields. For example, if the complaint is related to gynaecology, we will take the gynaecologist’s help to review the complaint and hearing. We plan to hold a hearing every week to finish the backlog,” he said.