IMPHAL, November 25: The Manipur Medical Council (MMC) which was lying defunct for two years after its inception is fully functional now with the full strength nomination of members and executive committee, said the council`™s registrar Dr Karam Lokendro during a press conference at the Manipur Press Club.
He said the Manipur Medical Council Act, 2009 received the assent of the President of India on May 12, 2012 following which the State government had published the Gazette notification on May 28, 2012.
He stated that under the provisions of this Act the powers, duties and functions of the State council is to maintain the live State Medical Register and to provide registration to medical practitioners; inspect, to hear and decide appeals against any decision of the registrar; to prescribe a code of ethics for regulating the professional conduct of the practitioners; to reprimand a practitioner or to suspend or remove his name from the State medical register or to take such other disciplinary action against him as may, in the opinion of the State council be necessary or expedient.
He said that the Act also provide the State council to exercise such other powers, perform such other duties and discharge such other functions as are laid down in this act or as may be prescribed; to receive complaints from public (including patients and their relatives) against misconduct or negligence by a medical practitioners, to proceed for inquest, take a decision on the merits of the case and to initiate disciplinary action or award, compensation and similarly to take action against frivolous complaints; to provide protection to its members in discharging professional duties; to ensure that no unqualified person practises modern scientific system of medicine in the state of Manipur.
Manipur Medical Council has constituted four committees – `Public Relation Committee`™, `Prevention of Quackery Committee`™, `Guidelines of CME and Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education Committee`™, and `Medical Ethics Committee`™, he continued.
He elaborated that the Public Relation Committee will look into the doctors-patients-public related issues, will work to create a cordial relationship between the doctors-patients-public, to create a friendly and harmonious environment in the workplaces of the Medical Professionals.
The Prevention of Quackery Committee will look into the issues of Quackery practices and unqualified practices in modern system of medical in the State while the Medical Ethics Committee will look into the ethical issues for regulating code of ethics and professional conducts of the registered practitioners, he said.
Dr Lokendro also said that the MMC has issued notification on November 17, 2014 which says under The Manipur Medical Council Rules 2013 and the Manipur Medical Council Act 2009 all doctors in the State of Manipur whether practicing or servicing modern scientific system of medicine as physician/surgeon or as an officer in government or in any other institution maintained by a local or other authorities shall be required to register with the Manipur Medical Council.
`Every such person shall apply for registration under this act to the State council with one year from the date of commencement of this Act failing which he/she shall be liable for action as determined by the State Council` he stated.
He mentioned that the executive committee of MMC has been constituted for a period of two years from October 27, 2014 with Dr Sinam Rajendra Singh as president, Dr H Liensang as vice president and Dr Ch Arun Kumar Singh, Dr Simpson Sareo, Dr Th Dhabali Singh, Dr Kh Palin and Dr L Ranjit as executive members.
Speaking to media person chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee Dr W Motilal Singh said that MMC is still in its infancy but will attain adulthood in a short period of time.
If any doctor is found guilty of misconduct, the first norm of the MMC will be to warn however, any further disregard will invite sever actions from the committee, he said.