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Maharashtra Medical Council Makes QR Plates Mandatory For Doctors
The Maharashtra Medical Council wants doctors to display special QR-code plates.
Patients can scan these plates to check whether a doctor is registered.
The rule applies wherever a doctor works.
About 14,000 doctors have obtained the codes, while around 1.29 lakh still need them.
Doctors have until October 31 to comply.
Hospitals and clinics must help display the plates clearly.
Only official physical plates will count.
Doctors who do not comply may receive warnings or fines.
Some doctors say existing identity cards already provide similar information.
The council says the system will help patients identify qualified doctors and expose fake practitioners.
The Maharashtra Medical Council has made KYD QR-code plates mandatory for registered doctors at every practice location.
About 14,000 of nearly 1.43 lakh renewed doctors have generated QR codes, leaving approximately 1.29 lakh to enrol.
Doctors must display officially issued physical plates; digital images, emails and printouts will not be accepted.
Hospitals, clinics and nursing homes must prominently display each doctor’s plate for patients to scan.
The council cited verification and action against bogus practitioners, while some doctors questioned the extra cost and necessity.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Medical Council and registered medical practitioners in Maharashtra.
- What
- The council has made physical Know Your Doctor QR-code plates mandatory at every place where registered doctors practise.
- Where
- At doctors’ practice locations, including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other medical institutions across Maharashtra.
- When
- The circular was issued on September 9, with an October 31 compliance deadline.
- Why
- To let patients verify doctors’ registration and help identify bogus or unqualified practitioners.
MMC’s Verification Rationale
Doctors’ Concerns
Need for a separate QR plate
MMC’s Verification Rationale
The Maharashtra Medical Council says the plate gives patients a simple way to verify whether a doctor is registered and adds protection against unqualified practitioners.
Doctors’ Concerns
Dr Tushar Jagtap said the MMC identity card already contains doctors’ details and a QR code, questioning the need for another plate at every practice location.
Purpose and cost of the initiative
MMC’s Verification Rationale
The council says the system is intended to curb bogus and fake medical practitioners.
Doctors’ Concerns
Jagtap said the MMC should focus on a stronger mechanism against quacks and alleged that the initiative could become a business model benefiting a private agency at doctors’ expense.
Key facts
- Doctors covered
- Approximately 1.29 lakh doctors still need to obtain KYD QR-code plates.
- Doctors with codes
- Around 14,000 doctors have generated KYD QR codes.
- Registration base
- Nearly 1.43 lakh doctors have renewed their MMC registrations.
- Deadline
- October 31.
- Display requirement
- A separate official physical plate is required for each practice location.
- Enforcement
- A first violation brings a warning; a second brings a Rs 1,000 penalty; a third brings a Rs 15,000 penalty.
- Daily target
- The council needs to enrol about 2,530 doctors per day, according to the article.
Quotes
Dr Vinky Rughvani
Administrator of the Maharashtra Medical Council
“Earlier, the KYD system was voluntary. However, only around 14,000 doctors applied for the QR codes, following which it has now been made mandatory,”
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