49 candidates in the fray for 9 seats in Maharashtra medical council

MUMBAI: With barely 11 days to go for the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) polls, the race among doctors is shaping up as a highly competitive one. Around 49 candidates are in the fray for the nine seats in the quasi-judicial body that primarily grants registrations and acts a grievance redressal forum for patients.
At least three panels —Parivartan, Pragati and the Indian Medical Association (IMA)—are currently leading the campaign and trying to mobilise 85,000 registered allopathy doctors in the state to come out and vote on December 18.
From transparency and efficiency, to unethical and impractical things like not convicting doctors in medical negligence cases or getting rid of the need for continuous medical education—the medical fraternity is showered with promises.
The Parivartan panel, on Wednesday, launched the prototype of a mobile application that will contain the registration number and detail of every registered doctor in the state. Eight independent candidates have come together to form the panel. “We are aiming at bringing in transparency, efficiency, accessibility and effectiveness to ensure protection and preservation of ethical medical practice in the state,” said gynaecologist Dr Sangeeta Pikale, who is contesting the polls.
“We will also work against quacks and illegal laboratories,” said Dr Shivkumar Utture, a contestant and former MMC member. The Pragati panel that has already courted a fair bit of controversy by aligning with the pro-BJP body Vaidyakiya Vikas Manch has promised to protect doctors against media trial and ill-treatment of doctors in corporate hospitals. The panel is also backed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.