Months after polls, MMC posts still vacant

Even though the elections of the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) were conducted three months ago, the crucial posts in this medical body are still vacant due to the delay by the state government. The MMC is an 18-member quasijudicial body that governs the conduct of allopathic doctors in the state. The government is the final decision making authority.

Elections of the MMC were held in December 2016, across the state, wherein resident doctors from several medical colleges had elected nine of the 18 members of the MMC panel. As per the rules, the remaining nine members are nominated by the government. However, it is alleged that the government is purposely delaying in naming the nine members.

A senior official of MMC said, “Despite the elections the government has failed to notify the nine members, out of which four members are from Director of Medical Radiology (DMR), Department of Health Services (DHS) and Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER).”

According to the official, the MMC is currently being administered by its Registrar who holds an additional charge of Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine (MCIM).

Dr. Dilip Wange, Registrar, MMC said, “I am facing a lot of difficulties because of the additional

The MMC is the state branch of the Medical Council of India (MCI) that regulates ethical practices of allopathic doctors.

Almost ten months ago, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and MMC had petitioned to the HC about putting in place a full time administrator/registrar in a petition at Bombay High Court (HC) almost 10 months ago.

As per the MMC Act, council members getting elected through a democratic process paves the way for appointment of a full time registrar with prior consultation and approval of the state government.

work of looking of the administration of the MMC. The body cannot be fully functional unless all the members are not nominated.”

The delay in finalising the new MMC panel has resulted in a backlog of nearly 774 cases of medical negligence. This is because the former MMC panel dissolved

in August 2016 and no new panel is formed yet.

Dr. Shivkumar Utare, member of Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, “Every month more than 150 cases are registered with the MMC and since the panel was disposed the work of MMC was taken over by the administration.”