LG appoints team of 4 doctors to regulate practice, regulations of medical practitioner

Registrar will be responsible for not only maintaining medical register but also for collecting prescribed registration fees

SRINAGAR: The Health and Medical Education Department of Jammu & Kashmir has issued a notification specifying the interim authority for the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council, following the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
According to the official notification, the Lieutenant Governor has appointed a team of four officers to regulate the practice and registration of medical practitioners in the Union Territory until a law is enacted.
The appointed officers include Dr. Saleem-ul-Rehman, Director General of Family Welfare and Maternity Child Health and Immunization; Dr. Iqbal Sofi, Medical Superintendent of District Hospital, Anantnag; Dr. Rajeshwar Sharma, Medical Superintendent of Chest Diseases Hospital, Government Medical College, Jammu; and Dr.Chanderlekha, a retired District Health Officer from Jammu.
As per the notification, the appointed authority will hold office until a specific law is enacted for the Medical Council. It will have the power to appoint a Registrar responsible for maintaining the “Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Medical Register.” The Registrar will ensure the regular update and publication of this register, which will serve as a public document under the Evidence Act.
The authority will also oversee the registration of medical practitioners based on qualifications listed in the notification’s schedule. They have the right to permit or deny registration, particularly for those without standard medical degrees but who have been practicing medicine for over nine years within the Union Territory.
Any appeal against the Registrar’s decisions can be brought before the authority within three months. The authority also holds the power to inspect medical institutions and request reports to assess their efficiency in providing medical education.
The notification also outlines the criteria for registration in the medical register, emphasizing the qualifications necessary for medical practitioners. Those holding recognized degrees, diplomas, or certificates from accredited medical institutions in India or abroad, as specified in the schedule, are eligible for registration.
However, the authority retains the discretion to permit the registration of individuals with alternative qualifications if they meet specific conditions, including a minimum of nine years of continuous practice in Jammu and Kashmir, without any allegations of misconduct or incompetence.
Additionally, the notification provides clear guidelines regarding the appointment of the Registrar, who will also serve as Treasurer, unless the authority decides otherwise. The Registrar will be responsible for not only maintaining the medical register but also for collecting the prescribed registration fees. In the case of a dispute regarding the qualifications or conduct of an applicant, the authority reserves the right to deny registration, ensuring that only qualified and reputable individuals are allowed to practice medicine in the region.
Moreover, the Lieutenant Governor's notification grants the authority the power to collaborate with medical universities, colleges, and schools to ensure their standards of education meet the necessary criteria for inclusion in the medical register. If any institution fails to comply with these requirements, its name may be removed from the schedule. This provision ensures that only institutions offering high-quality medical education can confer qualifications that lead to practice in Jammu and Kashmir.
This interim regulatory framework aims to safeguard the health and safety of the public by maintaining strict standards for medical professionals in the Union Territory, while also ensuring that the governance of medical practice aligns with national standards set by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.