Mumbai: In a bid to boost rural healthcare services and encourage medical professionals to contribute to underserved areas, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) is set to introduce a new system allowing doctors to earn credit points by participating in rural medical camps.
The initiative, which is part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, is expected to be announced within a week.
Incentivizing Rural Healthcare
Under the CPD guidelines, all registered medical practitioners (RMPs) must accumulate 30 credit points every five years to renew their MMC registration.
Currently, doctors can earn credit points through:
✅ Attending Continuing Medical Education (CME) seminars
✅ Publishing medical research papers
✅ Participating in academic activities
With the new initiative, doctors will also be able to earn credit points by:
✔️ Volunteering in rural medical camps
✔️ Conducting free surgeries
✔️ Providing healthcare services in underserved areas
“Doctors who volunteer in rural medical camps, conduct surgeries, and provide free healthcare services should receive some incentive. The best way to encourage them is by awarding credit points,” said Dr. Vinky Rughwani, MMC administrator.
How the Credit System Will Work
- Hospitals or charitable organizations hosting medical camps will notify MMC about doctors providing free services for at least three hours.
- Based on their service, the doctors will be awarded credit points that contribute to their CPD requirements.
- Doctors must accumulate at least six credit points per year, with 50% of the total points required in their area of specialization.
- Credit points cannot be carried forward to the next renewal cycle.
This system aims to encourage doctors to work in rural areas while also making it easier for them to fulfill their CPD obligations.
QR Code System for Registered Doctors
In a significant move towards transparency, MMC is set to introduce QR codes for every registered doctor in Maharashtra within two weeks.
📌 What will the QR code do?
- Patients can scan the QR code to verify a doctor’s credentials, including:
✅ Qualifications
✅ MMC registration number
✅ Medical license status
📌 Why is this important?
- The QR system aims to curb medical malpractice by preventing unqualified practitioners from treating patients.
- It will also help patients access verified healthcare professionals easily.
“This initiative is designed to help patients access verified medical professionals and curb treatment by unqualified practitioners,” Dr. Rughwani said.
MMC Elections Scheduled for April 3, 2025
For the first time in over two years, MMC will hold elections for its governing body on April 3, 2025.
📌 Key election details:
🗳️ Nine of the 18 committee members will be elected
📅 Deadline for nomination papers: February 18, 2025
📍 Voting will take place at district headquarters, supervised by district collectors
MMC has been operating without an elected committee since August 7, 2022. During this period, it was overseen by appointed administrators, including:
- Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean of Sir JJ Group of Hospitals (1 year)
- Dr. Dilip Mhaisekar, Director of DMER (brief tenure)
- Dr. Vinky Rughwani, current administrator
Established in 1912, MMC is a quasi-judicial body that regulates medical education and ethics in Maharashtra. With over 1.8 lakh registered doctors, it processes approximately 9,000 new registrations annually and handles medical negligence complaints.
The Road Ahead
With these initiatives, MMC aims to strengthen rural healthcare, enhance transparency in medical practice, and ensure fair governance. The coming months will be crucial in determining how well these reforms are implemented and received by the medical community.
