Nagaland Medical Council to apply Central code of ethics to doctors

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, JULY 3

The newly constituted Nagaland Medical Council (NMC) has announced that it will strictly adhere to the code of ethics prescribed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and enforce it for medical practitioners so as to streamline the health care service system in the state.
The council revealed on Friday that despite being made mandatory for all the states, the failure to establish medical council in Nagaland even after 50 years of statehood has allowed medical practice to flourish without any rules and regulations. This has created loopholes in the system and encouraged unethical practices leading to exploitation of public (patients), NMC members alleged. They said there are doctors who claim to be specialists without proper degrees, doctors claiming huge commissions for referral to private hospitals/clinics and there are even some private hospitals claiming to be research centres without the approval of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which are all tantamount to illegal and unethical practice.

These activities, the NMC maintained, have thoroughly commercialized the health care services in Nagaland. The council seeks to make the public aware of false propaganda that are taking place and regulate the health care service system so as to set proper trends.
“Ours is an honourable profession and we want to bring the ‘honour’ back into the profession,” NMC members told media persons at a press conference held in the premises of Para Medical Training Institute, Kohima on Friday. They also highlighted the need for proper implementation of the Nagaland Health Care Establishment Act 1997.
NMC president, Dr. LM Murry said the council was constituted to establish and maintain high standard of medical education and register doctors to practice in the state. He informed that the state council will strive to protect and promote health care service while ensuring the safety of the public and regulate proper standard in the practice of medicine.

He said the state council is a statutory board established under the Nagaland Medical Council Act 2014 passed by the state assembly last year and as mandated by the MCI.
“Every allopathic practitioner (both private and government) should register in the council by law, and it is illegal to practice modern medicine without registration in the state council,” Dr. Murry informed, adding, “Any unregistered medical practitioner will not be appointed in government service.”
He said the state government is to wholly fund the initial establishment of the council, however, no funds were issued so far and the council is discharging its duties on its own.
NMC vice president, Dr. Sashi, who was also present, voiced concern that although the NMC is an Act of the parliament, misconceptions are developing and many doctors are apprehensive that the council has been set up to control them. He said NMC is trying to ensure that the MCI code of ethics is followed, not just for the welfare of the public alone but for medical practitioners as well.
Supplementing to this, NMC member Dr. Kezha said the state council’s activities are legitimate part of the MCI. “Our activities include registry and scrutiny of all the doctors in the state,” he said. He pointed out that the council is required to check if the doctors possess basic and authentic qualifications or they are taking the public for a ride with bogus degrees. He said things were done in an arbitrary manner in the past, but he hopes that with the constitution of the NMC, an ethical, transparent and accountable system will be set.
Dr. Kezha also highlighted that the council is like an extension of the arm of the government but will also act as a watchdog to ensure that the government does things that it is supposed to do as far as medical practitioners are concerned.
Meanwhile, NMC deputy registrar, Dr. K Meyase said 144 doctors have registered with the council so far and the registration will continue till July 31, following which the list will be forwarded to the Central registry with the MCI. Explaining the low registration when there are an estimated 150 number of unemployed doctors alone, he said many doctors are still not aware of the formation of the state council. He informed that registration fees are Rs.2000 for basic MBBS and additional Rs.1000 each for specialists and super specialists. All allopathic doctors are eligible for registration while dentists, ayurvedic and homeopathic practitioners are not included. He also informed that anyone coming from outside the state to conduct medical camps in Nagaland will also have to register with the council.