Row over registration of doctors with Kerala medical body

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The circular of

Travancore Cochin Medical Council

(TCMC) that all the doctors who are not registered with the council will not be able to practice in the state has created a row. A doctor has challenged this order from the TCMC stating that it is against the Indian Medical Council Act of 1956.


However, the TCMC authorities are of the view that as per the TCMP Act of 1953, all the doctors who practice in Kerala should register with the TCMC. "There is a demand for a national registration and the proposal is before the MCI. However, at present each doctor will have to get the registration of the state councils if they want to practice," said Dr K Mohanan, TCMC member.

The TCMC in a circular issued on Thursday had urged all the doctors working in the private hospitals to register with the council since it was found that several doctors were practising in the hospitals without state’s registration.

But Dr Babu K V medical practitioner from Payannur has urged the state council to withdraw this notification since it is against the IMC Act. "There is apparently a conflict between the IMC and TCMP act. When there is a conflict between central and state act, the earlier one will prevail. The IMC act clearly says that once a registered medical practitioner is get enrolled in the Indian Medical Register then the doctors can practice anywhere in the country," said Dr Babu.

He has now written to the TCMC urging them to withdraw the circular or else he would be forced to approach the court. "The state medical council cannot issue any notification legally in violation of the central act," he said.

But the TCMC has decided to inspect the private hospitals to find out whether the doctors are practising without registering with the state council. "There are doctors who have secured their degree from other states working here. They might have registered at the state from where they have completed their degree or post-graduation. This is not enough as per the TCMP act," said Dr K Mohanan.

Meanwhile, the

Indian Medical Association

(IMA) has made it clear that the registration with the state council is mandatory and hence all the doctors should complete the process. "As per the Act, the doctors have to get registered. But if there is a conflict in the acts, then the Indian Medical Council should come with an amendment," said Dr N Sulphi, state secretary of IMA.

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