Bengal doctors’ body seeks dissolution of medical council over corruption

West Bengal Joint Platform of Doctors has written a letter to the Mamata Banerjee-led state government to dissolve.

The West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC), citing alleged corruption, legal irregularities, and unauthorised tenure of the current registrar, Manas Chakraborty. In a letter addressed to the state’s Health Department, the doctors highlighted grave concerns about the continued existence of the Council, calling for a new, legally sound body to be formed in its place.

The letter underscores alarming issues, starting with the revelation that Chakraborty has been serving as registrar without a valid government order for years. “It has come to our attention, from none other than Manas Chakraborty himself, that he has been occupying the position of registrar of the WBMC without any valid government order for the past few years,” the letter stated. The doctors’ body warned that this irregularity poses serious legal risks, particularly with respect to the registration of doctors whose certificates bear Chakraborty’s unauthorised signature.

Key Concerns Raised In The Letter
1. Illegal occupation of registrar’s position: The doctors alleged that Chakraborty continued in his role well beyond his retirement, with only a brief extension of six months, which has since expired. His extended tenure without proper authorisation casts doubt over the validity of registration certificates issued during this period, potentially jeopardising the legal standing of thousands of doctors.

2. Compromise of public trust and legal standing: The doctors argue that the registrar’s illegitimate occupancy undermines the Council’s role as a legitimate regulatory body, calling into question its ability to oversee medical registrations with integrity. “The Department of Health and Family Welfare’s failure to address this issue has compromised the registration process of doctors,” the letter reads.

3. Corruption and criminal nexus: Several WBMC members, including the President, are reportedly under investigation for illegal activities. The letter claims that the unauthorised tenure of the registrar is yet another indicator of the corruption and criminal collusion affecting the Council.

4. Legal and medical repercussions: The doctors fear that the actions of the unauthorised registrar could lead to widespread legal challenges, with the validity of doctors’ registrations potentially contested in court. This situation, they argue, puts both medical professionals and patients at risk.

5. Immediate need for action: The letter stresses that dissolving the WBMC is the only solution to restore public trust and safeguard the state’s healthcare system. The doctors called for a formation of new council that operates transparently, upholding both legal and ethical standards.

“The situation is both a legal and ethical crisis, and continued inaction would only exacerbate the damage already done to the medical profession and public health in West Bengal,” the letter stated, urging swift and decisive action to protect the integrity of the state’s medical community.

The West Bengal Health Department has yet to respond publicly to the allegations or the doctors’ demands.