New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today
issued notice to the Centre and the Medical Council of India
(MCI) seeking their response to a petition seeking to allow
non-MBBS persons to practise medicine.
A bench comprising Chief justice A P Shah and justice
S Muralidhar directed the health secretary and president of
MCI to file their response on a PIL seeking to decriminalise
practice of medicine by non-MBBS persons.
The court issued the notice on a petition filed by a
doctor Meenakshi Gautam seeking it to direct the government to
introduce a short term course for training health care workers
so that shortage of doctors in rural areas could be removed.
The petitioner pleaded that Indian Medical Council
Act, which provides for one year imprisonment for practising
medicine by non-MBBS persons, should be amended.
"The effect of the section is that only a person with
MBBS qualification can practice medicine and prescribe a
scheduled drug. This section has obstructed the development of
mid-level health practitioners who can deliver family health
care. This has led to situation where large majority of the
population are unable to get treatment," advocate Prashant
Bhushan appearing for the petitioner contended.
He also pleaded the government should be directed to
provide three years course to health workers so that they
could provide proper medical services in the rural areas.
The court, after hearing his contentions, said it is
an important issue and sought to know the stand of government
and MCI on it.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 19:04