MMC mem­bers oppose plan to scrap elec­tions

posal to appoint coun­cil mem­bers instead of con­duct­ing elec­tions. The Heal­ing Hands Unity Panel, which is con­test­ing the MMC elec­tions, said the move amounts to dir­ect inter­fer­ence in the ongo­ing elect­oral pro­cess.

Accord­ing to the panel, the decision could influ­ence the elec­tion out­come and under­mine demo­cratic prin­ciples, affect­ing nearly 2.13 lakh registered med­ical prac­ti­tion­ers across the state. The MMC elec­tions are sched­uled for April 26, fol­low­ing a dir­ect­ive from the Supreme Court.

On April 13, the Maha­rashtra gov­ern­ment pro­posed amend­ments to the MMC Act, 1965, to allow the appoint­ment of mem­bers through nom­in­a­tion rather than elec­tion. The move is aimed at over­haul­ing the struc­ture of the coun­cil by trans­ition­ing it into a fully nom­in­ated body. At present, the coun­cil com­prises a mix of elec­ted and gov­ern­ment­nom­in­ated mem­bers.

The plan is also inten­ded to align the med­ical coun­cil with the National Med­ical Com­mis­sion (NMC). However, the pro­posal has drawn strong oppos­i­tion from sec­tions of the med­ical com­munity. Dr Jagtap, con­test­ing under the Heal­ing Hands Unity Panel, said, “The move under­mines demo­cratic prin­ciples, affect­ing around 2.13 lakh registered med­ical prac­ti­tion­ers across the state”. Jagtap added the panel may pur­sue legal action.

Dr Patil, a gyn­ae­co­lo­gist who is also con­test­ing the MMC elec­tion, stated, “Elec­tions must be held; only then there is trans­par­ency. A nom­in­ated body will take away doc­tors’ voice and leave us with no real author­ity”.