Dr Kunal Saha, a US-based medical practitioner, will be contesting the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) elections this year. The last council was dissolved around one year back.
Saha, who is better known as the husband of child psychologist Dr Anuradha Saha, who died due to medical negligence in Kolkata some years ago, has accused the council of corruption and of ignoring the numerous negligence complaints.
He said, “People have lost faith in the medical facilities and treatment available in Bengal owing to the numerous and frequent incidents of negligence reported here. We need a clean, impartial council to punish guilty doctors.”
Opting for elections is a first for WBMC after years of electing council members on the basis of preferences and political affiliations. Saha, the president of People for Better Treatment (PBT), a society fighting against medical negligence, will also file a PIL with the Calcutta High Court against medical council norms in the state.
He said, “We will soon file a PIL to have 50% members (who are not doctors) in the council to protect the interests of the public, going by the UK and US model. This is because the medical fraternity tends not to act against guilty doctors.”
He also alleged that the earlier council during the Left Front regime had only those doctors on board who were backed by the CPM or had party connections. When the Trinamool came to power, doctors backed by it took over the council.
{{/usCountry}}He also alleged that the earlier council during the Left Front regime had only those doctors on board who were backed by the CPM or had party connections. When the Trinamool came to power, doctors backed by it took over the council.
{{/usCountry}}The elections are being held after Saha and his society filed a case against the council and it was dissolved some time back.