Shock treatment: MCI debars 65 docs

NEW DELHI: The Medical Council of India is finally cracking the whip on private medical colleges imparting substandard medical education to aspiring doctors. In its first ever case of strict action, the MCI has debarred 65 doctors from practising medicine after their names were found on the rolls of several private medical colleges as members of the faculty.
Several private medical colleges are known to enrol doctors as faculty members for the period of MCI inspection.MCI took the action against the doctors after it noticed that some names were getting repeated in its inspection records. On proper investigation, the MCI discovered that some of these doctors were on the faculty of two or more medical colleges at the same time.
MCI secretary Dr A R N Setalvad said the council had taken a serious view of the practice. "This will now be an ongoing exercise. Several others also may be identified. These doctors will not be allowed to practice until 2007."
Setalvad said MCI permits a deficiency of 5% of teaching staff. However, if any college is found to have a deficiency exceeding 5%, MCI will not recommend its recognition. MCI is also planning to publish the names of the 65 doctors on its website. A circular will also be sent to the directors of all medical education in different states, all universities and medical colleges.