High-Level Committee Planned to Scrutinise Medical Degrees Across Government Healthcare Facilities
Bhopal: In the wake of the fake MBBS degree racket linked to Sanjeevani clinics operating under the National Health Mission (NHM), the Madhya Pradesh Health and Medical Education Department has initiated a comprehensive statewide verification drive to examine the credentials of doctors working in government healthcare centres.
The move comes amid growing concerns following the identification of 12 alleged fake doctors employed at Sanjeevani clinics across nine districts of the state. Authorities have intensified investigations after tracing and arresting the alleged mastermind behind the fake degree network.
According to official sources, the state government is now preparing to establish a high-level verification committee comprising representatives from the Higher Education Department, the Health and Medical Education Department, and the Madhya Pradesh Medical Council. The committee will be responsible for scrutinising medical degrees, professional certificates, and other credentials submitted by healthcare professionals working in government facilities.
Verification of Newly Recruited Doctors to Be Made Mandatory
As part of the strengthened monitoring mechanism, documents of newly recruited medical professionals will undergo mandatory verification before appointment. The government aims to prevent unqualified individuals from entering the public healthcare system and restore confidence in recruitment procedures.
Currently, the verification of contractual doctors is carried out by Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) at the district level. However, recent findings have exposed significant gaps in the existing process, as several alleged fake doctors reportedly continued to work for more than a year without detection.
Health Department Seeks Accountability From District Authorities
Reports indicate that delays in verification were partly caused by universities failing to respond promptly to requests for degree authentication. In response, the Health Department has issued notices to CMHOs across the state, seeking explanations and directing them to ensure timely verification of credentials.
The degrees of all contractual doctors, including those serving at Sanjeevani clinics, are currently being examined in a phased manner. Officials believe the ongoing probe may reveal additional cases involving fraudulent medical qualifications.
NHM Reviews Credentials of 81 Doctors
The National Health Mission (NHM) has already reviewed the credentials of 81 doctors after three fake practitioners were initially detected in Damoh district. Following these findings, authorities have expanded the investigation and intensified scrutiny across multiple districts.
The verification drive is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight, enhance patient safety, and ensure that only qualified and duly certified medical professionals are permitted to practice in government healthcare institutions across Madhya Pradesh.
Crackdown Aims to Protect Public Health
The state’s latest initiative highlights growing concerns over fraudulent medical practitioners and underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining standards in healthcare delivery. With investigations ongoing, health authorities are focusing on identifying irregularities, improving verification mechanisms, and preventing future instances of fake doctors entering the public healthcare system.
