In a landmark decision that may have far-reaching consequences in our fight against medical corruption, Central Information Commission (CIC) has delivered scathing criticism of the Medical Council of India (MCI) for their deliberate attempt to suppress information related to a wide-range of healthcare issues including investigation of complaints of “medical negligence”, appointment of Inspectors for medical colleges and ongoing investigation of disgraced ex-MCI president, Dr. Ketan Desai (see the CIC Judgment below). This matter emerged after PBT sought information (under RTI Act, 2005) from MCI about their failure to upload Ethics Committee investigation of doctors since 2013 and their reluctance to provide any response to critical questions like the status of medical license of Dr. Ketan Desai or about the qualification of medical inspectors hired by the MCI to inspect medical colleges for approval or disapproval to teach medical courses.
After MCI provided blatantly evasive response to the specific questions posed by the PBT, appeal was filed with the CIC against the sinister role of the MCI. PBT President, Dr. Kunal Saha, personally appeared to argue this matter on behalf of PBT before the CIC during his recent trip to India and CIC has delivered this historic judgment today. Almost on every issue raised by the PBT, CIC has agreed with the PBT and directed MCI to come clean and provide the answers within 3 weeks time. Better transparency with investigation of complaints against doctors including the more than 6 years long investigation of disgraced Ketan Desai (who is still free on bail, waiting for criminal trial on serious charges for bribery) will go a long way toward removing the rampant corruption in India’s healthcare delivery and medical education systems.
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