Maharashtra: Medical council files complaint over fake message

The Maharashtra Medical Council has approached Agripada police station over a message, which states MBBS-degree holders should write BMBS as their qualification, doing the rounds on the social media and messaging applications.

The Maharashtra Medical Council has approached Agripada police station over a message, which states MBBS-degree holders should write BMBS as their qualification, doing the rounds on the social media and messaging applications.

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The message reads, “MBBS is a bachelors degree. Due to this confusion, patients prefer MBBS doctors over BHMS (homeopathy) doctors, as they feel that MBBS doctors are more qualified.”

“The message allegedly mentions the high court and MMC, making it seem like news. We have got calls from doctors from abroad, too, enquiring if there is such a development,” said Dr Kishore Taori, president, MMC, who has also been quoted in the message.

Dr Taori said this is a mischief, which has led to confusion. “We have asked the police to trace the man who has created the message,” he said.

“It is a fake message. We are not blaming any other form of medicine. I have also been falsely quoted in the message. MBBS is known internationally as a graduation degree,” said Dr Janak Shah, president, General Practitioners’ Association.

Ashok Sarambalkar, senior inspector, Agripada police station, said, “We are investigating the matter.”

MEDICAL COUNCIL ISSUES SUMMONS

Twenty-three doctors in the state who were found to be using degrees issued by Seychelles University, which is not recognised by the Medical Council of India, were summoned by the MMC.

“We had received complaints from fellow doctors and patients about the doctors displaying such non-recognised degrees. They have given us an undertaking that they will not display the degrees anymore and remove their mention from their letterhead and visiting cards,” said Dr Taori.