Nature of Information required
In the last ten years, that is during the period from January 2002 to December 2011, regarding ‘cut-practice’ by which I mean the system of a doctor giving commission to another doctor for the ‘service’ of referring patients:
1. Against how many doctors has the Medical Council of India (MCI) received complaints for doing cut-practice? I want to know the total numbers including those giving as well as those receiving cuts.
2. How many doctors suspected of doing cut-practice were investigated by MCI?
3. In case the allegation of cut-practice against any doctor was proved to be true, what was the punishment/ penalty imposed on such a doctor?
4. Did the MCI receive any complaints that a hospital/ nursing home/ diagnostic centre or such other commercial establishment rendering medical services, was involved in cut-practice? If yes, how many complaints were received?
5. How many complaints of cut-practice against commercial medical establishments were investigated by the MCI?
6. In case any commercial medical establishment was found to be engaging in cut-practice, what was the punishment/ penalty imposed?
7. Has there been any request to Medical council of India to designate cut-practice as an illegal activity tantamount to corruption?
8. Has there been any plan/ proposal of the MCI to declare cut-practice as a form of corruption?
REPLY Dated-28-3-2012
Total number of complaints, that is, 588 against doctors working in private practice/ nursing homes/ private hospital/ Govt. hospital during January 2011 to March 2012 has been received by council. It is further to state that no complaint has been received for doing cut-practice.
MCI has prescribed the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, etiquette and Ethics ) Regulations, 2002 which is available on website www.mciindia.org. The Council does not maintain the data in the manner in which it is sought for.
It is further stated that the queries are in the nature of eliciting opinion and therefore, it does not constitute information as defined under u/s(f) of the RTI Act 2005.
Signed
Dr Davinder Kumar
Joint Secretary and PIO
