Doctors write to CM, Health Minister over ‘non-functional’ DMC

In a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) pointed out that the doctors were unable to register to practice medicine across the hospitals in the Capital, allegedly due to the “non-functioning” of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC).

“We wish to draw your kind attention to the ongoing issue caused by the non-functioning status of the DMC,” the letter read, also highlighting the current “administrative standstill”, it said doctors in premier institutions such as AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Maulana Azad Medical College are unable to obtain DMC registration after its dissolution. The Health Department has not responded to the letter.

In June, Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena gave the nod to the Delhi government’s proposal to dissolve the DMC over alleged “irregularities” and directed the Health Department to initiate the process of reconstituting the DMC within two months.

The government’s move came after a registrar’s retirement was allegedly extended without its approval. The L-G also directed two ex-officio members to continue and assigned the responsibility of the registrar to the Directorate General of Health Services. Earlier this year, in February, in response to the government’s show-cause notice to the DMC, the latter argued that the concerned officer had resigned.

“There are a lot of delays with foreign medical graduates and interns. Without the registration certificate, they are unable to practice, and this is leading to a shortage of doctors and medical interns,” RDA president, Dr. Y. Saikaustubh, told The Hindu, adding that the medical negligence complaints by patients have been recorded for the past five months.

“Given the crucial role these doctors play in maintaining the functioning of Delhi’s healthcare system, especially in government and tertiary care hospitals, we request your urgent intervention to resolve this matter,” the RDA letter stated. It also urged the government for “immediate steps to either operationalise the DMC or provide a provisional registration mechanism”.