Latest news with #DelhiMedicalCouncil
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
DMC bars 2 Fortis doctors from claiming neonatology credentials pending inquiry into qualifications
The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has ordered that two doctors associated with Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, to refrain from claiming specialist credentials or practicing as super-specialists in neonatology, pending an inquiry into their qualifications. This action comes in the wake of a long-standing legal battle over the alleged medical negligence that left a child in a permanent vegetative state. In the May 21 order addressed to Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, the DMC said: 'Considering the material on record and information received from the UK General Medical Council regarding Dr. Vivek Jain, the Executive Committee of the Delhi Medical Council, in the public interest, takes the prima facie view that, pending further inquiry, both Dr. Akhilesh Singh and Dr. Vivek Jain should refrain from claiming neonatologist status and practicing as super-specialists'. 'Their credentials as qualified pediatricians are also pending inquiry,' the DMC said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the DMC's Executive Committee held on May 19, 2025, following a complaint by Mr Sachin Jain — father of five-year-old Devarsh Jain — who has accused the two doctors of endangering public health by practicing as specialist without qualifications. Also read: Five-year-old in vegetative state, parents move court Based on available records, the council found that Dr. Akhilesh Singh is registered only with an MBBS qualification. 'He thus cannot claim himself to be a specialist,' the DMC said. The controversy traces back to 2017 when Devarsh Jain was born at Fortis Hospital and allegedly suffered a hypoxic brain injury during his neonatal care. According to the petition filed before the Delhi High Court, the parents claimed that Dr. Jain and Dr. Singh were allowed to function as neonatologists without the requisite qualifications, contributing to the child's severe and irreversible condition. The child's father alleged that after the injury was inflicted, the hospital concealed the true extent of the damage, discharged the baby with a 'healthy' status, and later misled the parents during follow-up consultations. The child was eventually diagnosed with West Syndrome, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy after months of untreated seizures and spasms. The petition claims that timely medical intervention could have significantly mitigated his suffering. A 2019 DMC order had earlier exonerated the doctors, stating that standard medical protocols were followed. However, the High Court stayed that order in 2020, and the matter has remained under judicial scrutiny since. On March 12 this year, the Delhi High Court directed the DMC to file affidavits clarifying whether the doctors' qualifications entitled them to practice as specialists in India. On May 5, the DMC informed the court that an inquiry had been initiated into their credentials.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
100 days in, health minister says Delhi's health infra received robust push
Three months into its term, the BJP government in Delhi has begun addressing longstanding gaps in the Capital's healthcare system, health minister Dr Pankaj Singh said on Friday — rolling out insurance schemes, pushing diagnostic upgrades, and cracking down on hospitals flouting fire safety norms. Speaking to HIndustan Times on Friday, Singh said over 300,000 Ayushman Bharat insurance cards have been issued so far, with 601 patients already admitted for treatment under the scheme. Further expanding on the data, Singh said more than 316,000 Ayushman Bharat health insurance cards have been issued since April — 175,060 under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for residents under 70, and 141,174 under the Vaya Vandana Yojana for senior citizens aged above 70. PM-JAY was launched in Delhi on April 5, followed by the rollout of the Vaya Vandana scheme on April 28. The latter provides health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh annually per family for eligible citizens above the age of 70. The government has also begun automatic card issuance for all beneficiaries in this category. So far, Singh said, 601 patients have received treatment under PM-JAY. Crackdown on fire safety violations in hospitals Following a Hindustan Times report highlighting lapses in fire safety clearances at three major government hospitals — Lok Nayak, Ambedkar Nagar and Bhagwan Mahavir — Singh acknowledged the issue and attributed the gaps to administrative neglect by previous governments. 'Lok Nayak is now close to receiving its no objection certificate from the fire department after implementing the necessary changes. Ambedkar Nagar is also being brought up to code,' he said. He added that 10 private hospitals have been denied NOCs due to non-compliance and given 45 days to rectify violations. 'Failure to comply will result in cancellation of their licenses,' he said. New tenders to ease medicine shortage On reports of shortages of essential drugs in government hospitals, Singh said inefficiency by previous vendors led to supply disruptions. 'We've cancelled their contracts and initiated a new tendering process. Going forward, half the medicines will be procured centrally, and the rest sourced locally to streamline delivery.' Diagnostic upgrades across 36 hospitals To reduce dependency on private centres for costly diagnostics, the government plans to install MRI and CT scan machines across all 36 government hospitals under a public-private partnership model. Singh said the services will be capped at ₹2,500 per scan, with rollout details being finalised. Inquiry into Delhi Medical Council On the proposed dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council amid allegations of irregularities, Singh said the matter is under review. 'A report has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor. Meanwhile, Director General of Health Services Dr Rati Makkar will oversee council operations.' Addressing concerns over rising respiratory infections, Singh said there was no COVID outbreak in the city. 'It's a seasonal viral wave. The infections are mild and self-limiting — there is no cause for panic.' .'
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Refrain from practising as super specialists: Delhi Medical Council to Fortis' doctors
The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has asked two doctors of Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh to refrain from claiming neonatologist status and practising as super specialists amid an ongoing inquiry. In a letter to the medical superintendent of the hospital, the council informed that the two doctors — Dr Akhilesh Singh and Dr Vivek Jain — cannot claim the status. 'Their credentials as qualified pediatricians are also pending inquiry,' the DMC said. The council wrote the letter to the hospital based on a complaint received against the two doctors and a Delhi High Court order that followed. The Delhi Medical Council's Executive Committee has also sought a reply from the private hospital and the doctors. In a statement, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, said that the order has been passed without their knowledge or opportunity for the doctors to present their case. 'We are astonished by the recent order, which seems to have been passed without our knowledge or opportunity for the doctors to present their case. The lack of prior notice for any hearing raises concerns about the order's validity. Notably, the Delhi Medical Council's 2023 affidavit to the Hon'ble High Court did not question the doctors' qualifications, making this development surprising. We are currently reviewing the order and will take appropriate legal action. Given the matter's sub judice status, we will refrain from further comments at this time,' said Fortis Hospital. While Dr Vivek Jain refused to comment on the matter, Dr Akhilesh said he has not received the DMC order yet. A writ petition was filed in the Delhi High Court against the two doctors, where the mother of a five-year-old boy alleged that the hospital deliberately concealed his birth injury and deprived him of timely treatment. According to the petition filed by Advocate Sachin Jain on behalf of the woman, her child suffered brain hypoxic injury at Fortis Hospital during his birth in 2017. The woman alleged that the hospital concealed this injury from her by fabricating the child's medical records. 'The child eventually became permanently vegetative and developed a rare medical condition known as 'West Syndrome'. He is living in deep pain and suffering from a high degree of epilepsy and cerebral palsy,' the petition underlined. She also claimed that the child remained in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Fortis Hospital for 11 days after birth. Then, Dr Vivek Jain and Dr Akhilesh Singh discharged the child, stating that there is no sign of any injury. Jain also submitted a complaint with the DMC and alleged that the two doctors are unqualified but have been practising in the Neonatal ICU at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. 'They don't even possess the requisite qualifications to be an expert or a specialist. Yet, they are practicing in these critical units of a super-speciality hospital and administering treatment to critically ill neonates and infants, thereby posing a serious threat to their lives and limbs,' he said. In March, the High Court directed the DMC and National Medical Council to file an affidavit on the qualifications of the two doctors.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
DMC dissolution: reform or political move?
NEW DELHI: A major shake-up is underway in Delhi's healthcare sector as the newly formed BJP-led government moves to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council (DMC). The decision, which follows a series of allegations regarding administrative mismanagement and financial irregularities, has raised serious concerns. The DMC has long been the city's primary watchdog for medical standards, tasked with validating the credentials of doctors and hospitals, overseeing medical compliance, and handling cases of negligence and professional misconduct. Delhi's Health Minister, Pankaj Singh, confirmed last week that the Delhi government has formally proposed the dissolution of the DMC. The proposal, which is now with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for approval, would mark the first such dissolution since the council's inception in 1998. Until a new body is formed, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will temporarily oversee the council's functions. 'The file regarding the dissolution of DMC is with the L-G. Until a new council is formed, DGHS will take charge. Several allegations, including mismanagement and corruption, prompted this move. There are also concerns related to the registration of doctors and the upcoming tenure of the president and vice president,' Singh said.
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
"Proposal to dissolve Delhi Medical Council awaits acceptance from LG," says Health Minister Pankaj Singh
By Tanya Chugh New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh has passed the proposal to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council, however, the proposal awaits acceptance from the LG's office. The said proposal has been passed by the minister, keeping in mind the financial irregularities in the council along with discrepancies in registrations, and mismanagement in functioning. 'We have passed the decision to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council and sent it to the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor for approval. We are currently awaiting his acceptance. There are several serious shortcomings in the Council, ranging from financial liabilities to issues with registrations. We will initiate an investigation into this matter,' Health Minister Singh told ANI. He further added, 'We have decided to dissolve the Council, and the Director of Health Services (DHS) will take over its responsibilities as the registrar. New registrations for our young doctors will continue under DHS. Once things are streamlined, we will hold elections in consultation with DHS. DHS will look after the Council's responsibilities until further orders.' 'Additionally, the tenure of president is also about to end,' he added. The Delhi Medical Council, a statutory body, was established in September 1998 following the enactment of the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997 by the Government of the NCT of Delhi. The body is entrusted with the powers, responsibilities, and functions of regulating the practice of modern scientific medicine within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. If the file gets approval from the Lieutenant Governor's office, then it will be the first time that so council will be dissolved since its inception in the year 1997. (ANI)
