J&K MC mandates doctors to display registration numbers, qualifications

Advisory issued to target unethical practices, strengthens patient trust

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council has directed all registered doctors to prominently display their registration numbers and qualifications in compliance with the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
A notice in this regard has been issued by Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council to all registered doctors.
It is our utmost responsibility as a regulatory body while ensuring that the patients are rightly treated by registered qualified doctors, there is utmost need to stop unethical practices and quackery/ impersonation wherein unqualified persons trap the over-trusting patients, violates their rights and indulge in unauthorized practices and bring bad name to medical professionalism, the notice reads.
It is impressed upon all the doctors registered with J&K Medical Council to follow the Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 in letter and spirit. All the registered doctors whether in government or private sector shall necessarily mentioned their registration number issued by J&K Medical Council as under.
The doctors working in government hospitals/ health centres shall mandatorily put his/her sign, name, designation and registration number issued by J&K Medical Council along with date & time on all prescriptions in OPDs, Clinical Notes on Patient Case Records/ Sheets, investigation reports, medical certificates and all documents wherever required as a government doctor while dealing in patient care as a responsible registered doctor.
The doctors working in private sector including nursing homes, hospitals, private clinics (single practitioner clinic/ poly-clinics), Infertility centres/clinics, rehabilitation centres, de-addiction centres/ clinics, hospices, domiciliary care providers, mobile clinics, medical camp service providers, voluntary service providers and all clinical consultation places/ establishments where clinical consultation is provided by allopathic medical practitioners in Jammu and Kashmir that they shall display in printed form his/her name, recognized qualifications, honours (if any) which confer professional knowledge or recognizes any exemplary qualification/achievements, specialty (wherever applicable) and registration number issued by J&K Medical Council on all prescriptions, certificates, money receipts given to his/her patients.
He/she shall mandatorily put his/her sign, name, designation and registration number issued by J&K Medical Council along with date & time on all prescriptions in OPDs, Clinical Notes on Patient Case Records/ Sheets, investigation reports, medical certificates and all documents wherever required.
It is encouraged that the registered doctors shall put the QR Code issued lately on permanent registration certificates, on their prescription pads enabling patients to verify the credentials of the consulting doctor registered with J&K Medical Council. 3. Medical practitioners in the Jammu & Kashmir should display the legally attested copies of registered qualifications (including degree/diploma of specialty) and permanent registration certificate issued by the J&K Medical Council at their place of private practice.
The registration number issued by J&K Medical Council and medical qualifications registered with the J&K Medical Council/ NMC shall be used in prescriptions, seals and letter pads. The practitioners are authorized to practice only those specialties, the qualifications of which they should have qualified and registered with J&K Medical Council.
If he/she does not display the registration number accorded to him/her by the J&K Medical Council in his/her clinic, prescriptions and certificates etc. issued by him/her or violates the provisions of regulation 1.4.2. of Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, this shall constitute professional misconduct rendering him/her liable for disciplinary action.