Filing a complaint against a registered medical practitioner

Who is a Registered Medical Practitioner

According to the Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, no person other than a doctor having qualification recognised by Medical Council of India and registered with National Medical Commission (NMC) /State Medical Council (s) is allowed to practice Modern system of Medicine or Surgery. A person obtaining qualification in any other system of Medicine is not allowed to practice Modern system of Medicine in any form.

To check the registration details of a Medical Practitioner, click here.

The Indian Medical Registry can be searched for Registered Doctors by entering / selecting the Name, Qualification, Registration Year, Registration No, Registered Council etc.

Process to complaint against a registered medical practitioner

The Medical Council of India’s Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes the following procedure for taking action on any misconduct of a registered medical practitioner.

• In - case of any professional misconduct by any medical practitioner under registered Indian Medical Council, the appellate can complaint to the respective State Medical Council for initiating enquiry and action. State Medical Council upon receipt of complaint would hold an enquiry and give opportunity to respondent/pleader to be heard in person.
• Decision on complaint against the delinquent physician shall be taken within a time limit of 6 months. During the pendency of the complaint the state medical council/NMC may restrain the delinquent physician from performing the procedure which is under scrutiny.
• In - case of Medical practitioner found guilty of professional misconduct, then the State Medical Council concerned may award punishment to the delinquent physician as per the regulation.
• Where the NMC is informed that any complaint against a delinquent physician has not been decided by State Medical Council within a period of 6 months from the date of receipt of complaint by it, then NMC may, impress upon the concerned State Medical Council to conclude and decide the complaint within a time bound schedule or may decide to withdraw the said complaint pending with the concerned State Medical Council straightaway or after the expiry of the period which has been stipulated by the MCI, to itself and refer the same to the Ethics Committee of the Council for its expeditious disposal in a period of not more than six months from the receipts of the complaint in the office of the National Medical Council.
• The person aggrieved by the decision of the State Medical Council on any complaint against a delinquent physician, shall have the right to file an appeal to the NMC within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the order passed by the said Medical Council. Provided that the NMC may, If it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from presenting the appeal within the aforesaid period of 60 days, allow it to be presented within a further period of 60 days.

Source : Public Notice issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Related resources

1. Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
2. List of State Medical Councils.