BMC health department cracks down on bogus doctors

BMCs G North health department issued notices to 10 doctors; FIR against 2 doctors, one arrested

@Vikas_Nag_1987

Mumbai: Bogus doctors who robbed ordinary patients during the Coronavirus pandemic period are now on the target of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Health department officers in the G North ward of the BMC have issued notice to 8 doctors out of which First Information Report (FIRs) have been registered against two doctors till now and one has been arrested by Dharavi police. 

Complaints of bogus doctors operating in slum areas of Mumbai have been lodged with the Municipal Health Department. Accordingly, the G North Health Department has taken action against such doctors.

As per Section 33 (1) of the Maharashtra Medical Practices Act, 1961, medical professionals are required to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council. Medical practitioners who are practicing medicine without registration are subject to action under Section 33 (2) of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961 and also under the appropriate section of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the survey conducted by the health officials of the G North Municipal Health Department found that Ion Jutister Ray does not have the registration certificate of Maharashtra Medical Council. A case has been registered against him at Dharavi police station.

“In addition, FIR was also registered in 2020 against Dr. Rajaram Vairagi who runs Pankaj Clinic at Naik Nagar in Dharavi. Rajaram Vairagi also had a case registered under Dharavi Police Station as he did not have the certificate of Maharashtra Medical Council. However, this doctor has resumed his medical business after getting bail. Therefore, the corporation has decided to take action against him again,” said Dr. Virendra. Mohite.

While an inspection was conducted by the health department in Dharavi in the G North ward, it was noticed that most of the doctors practicing medicine do not have the medical certificate issued by the Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine Mumbai / Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy, Mumbai.

While talking to TheNews21 G North ward, Assistant Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar said, “It’s a need of the hour as frequent complaints have been received in this regard, so we took this crusade action and we will continue the same.”

As per Section 33 (1) of the Maharashtra Medical Practices Act, 1961, medical practitioners are required to register with the concerned Medical Council. Therefore, the corporation has issued a notice to such doctors and asked them to submit a copy of the registered certificate to the concerned medical council within 7 days to the medical health officer.

The names of the doctors on whom action was taken. 
1. Dr. Rajaram Bairagi
2. Dr. Pawan Kumar Sahani
3. Dr. Ion Jutister Ray
4. Dr. Subhash Kaushal
5. Dr. Hubby Bansari
6. Dr. Raji Haider
7. Dr. Anupam Shastri
8. Dr. Manoj Jaiswal

Senior police inspector, Balwant Singh has confirmed the information of arrest of the doctor.

“After getting a written complaint by the BMC official we held a joint operation with the BMC officials from G North ward. On inspection we found the necessary document required to practice as a doctor was not possessed by the accused doctor, therefore under the sections 419, 420 and 336 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with section 33 and 36 of Maharashtra Medical Practitioners act, 1961, Ion Jutister Ray was arrested,” said Vijay Khadangale, investigating officer.