Urges Strict Government Action Against Unregistered Practitioners, Quacks, and Misuse of Public Posts
Kohima:
The Nagaland Medical Council (NMC), during its Executive and Ethical Committee meeting on July 18, raised alarm over growing concerns related to doctors’ registration compliance, medical malpractice, ethical violations, and systemic governance failures in the healthcare sector.
In a press release, the Council highlighted persistent gaps in professional accountability and urged both government authorities and the medical community to uphold the standards mandated by the Nagaland Medical Council Act, 2014, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines.
🔴 Key Concerns Raised by the Council
1. Fake Registrations and Misuse of Credentials
The Council revealed disturbing instances where individuals falsely claimed specialist qualifications or used registration numbers of other doctors to practice medicine illegally. One notable case involved a Dimapur Medical Hall staff member, who performed over 20 post-mortems using a senior government doctor’s registration number despite lacking proper credentials.
Such acts, the Council noted, endanger public health, undermine trust, and potentially reflect official negligence or complicity.
2. Failure to Renew Registrations
The Council reiterated that all allopathic medical practitioners, including those from outside the state or working in camps and clinics, must register with the Nagaland Medical Council. Registration is required to be renewed every five years, yet several government-employed doctors have failed to do so.
Terming such employment illegal, the Council has urged the state government to take immediate corrective action.
⚠️ Unqualified Doctors and Private Hospitals
The Council accused some private hospitals of employing unqualified practitioners and quacks, urging the health department to conduct thorough investigations and penalize those violating norms.
As per official records, 1,480 allopathic doctors are registered in Nagaland, maintaining a doctor-patient ratio of roughly 1:1600. However, despite the numbers, the Council expressed concern about rising unemployment among qualified doctors and the concentration of specialists in urban areas.
💸 Misuse of Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA)
A major issue highlighted was the widespread private practice by government doctors, who are already drawing Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA)—meant to ensure their exclusive commitment to public service.
The Council noted that many such doctors neglect their official duties and operate clinics in cities like Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung, in violation of government service rules. Despite repeated complaints, including from the Lokayukta, no disciplinary action has reportedly been taken.
The Council warned that this dual practice jeopardizes rural healthcare access and exposes doctors to legal liability in cases of negligence.
⚖️ Medical Negligence and Absenteeism
The Council also flagged increasing complaints of medical negligence, especially from peripheral and rural areas where doctors are frequently absent from duty.
Citizens have been encouraged to report such cases directly to the Council, which has promised thorough investigation and appropriate action against willful negligence.
🚨 Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Expressing concern over continuing cases of sexual misconduct by doctors, the Council described such behavior as a “serious, unethical, and criminal offence”. Doctors found guilty may face criminal prosecution and cancellation of medical registration.
The Council has urged the public to report such misconduct to the Ethical Committee of the NMC, either through email or formal written complaints.
📢 Call to Action
Reaffirming its role as the ethical and regulatory watchdog, the Nagaland Medical Council has called upon:
- The state government to crack down on illegal practices and enforce registration norms.
- Private hospitals to ensure only qualified doctors are employed.
- Citizens to remain vigilant and report malpractice, negligence, or unethical behavior.
