JOIN USMedical Council of India has recommended that the nine diagnostic centres ‘exposed’ by a TV sting operation recently should be taken off the panel of healthcare facilities where patients are referred to through government or corporate tie-ups, till an inquiry is completed.
The sting had pointed at an alleged nexus between the diagnostic centres' doctors who prescribed unnecessary tests.
The diagnostic centres are currently on the panel on medical facilities to which which Central Government Health Services (CGHS), government organisations like the Railways and corporate houses refer patients.
An empanelment, thus, can mean extra business for a healthcare centre.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had written to the ethics committee of MCI to investigate the matter.
“We have recommended that the government depanel the nine diagnostic centres till the inquiry is completed. All the concerned doctors and the respective management bodies were present in today’s meeting. Only full-time doctors at the centres are accountable in the case. Currently, the accounts of the diagnostic centres are being scrutinised. We are of the firm belief that only an iron hand can curb the current unethical practices,” said Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, chairperson of MCI ethics committee.
The council has also issued an advisory to all state medical councils asking them to promptly investigate any complaint of inflated bills or unnecessary tests prescribed at hospitals.
“We have mentioned in the advisory that these complaints be dealt with on a priority and time-bound basis by the councils,” Dr Ahmad added.
Meanwhile, Vardhan told Deccan Herald that the government will soon implement the MCI recommendation.
“We will implement the recommendation put forward by the council. Meanwhile, another independent inquiry is underway. Once we receive the inquiry report, we will take further action against these centres. The report is awaited in the next six weeks,” he said.
An MCI source said these diagnostic centres make 90 per cent of the business through the empanelment.
“Taking them off the panel would be a blow to their business. Though the MCI has recommended this measure, it depends upon the government to implement it,” said the source.
The minutes of Thursday’s meeting were likely to be made available late Thursday night on the council’s website.
The diagonstic centres flout rules openly as there is no regulation in place.
“Businessmen are running these diagnostic centres. The nexus between doctors and businessmen is fast growing. This why doctors are unscrupulously prescribing tests,” said Dr Anil Bansal, a member of Delhi Medical Council.