Regulators Mandate Registration Checks to Curb Unqualified Practitioners

In a bid to curb the infiltration of unqualified doctors into private health facilities, West Bengal’s health authorities have introduced mandatory verification procedures. Effective immediately, any private clinic, hospital, or nursing home must validate a doctor’s registration number with the state council before confirming employment.

The move follows reports of people posing as medical professionals, using counterfeit certificates and fake registration numbers, which has sown confusion among the public. The health department has directed all licensing officers to remain alert and to forward any suspicious cases to the West Bengal Medical Council without delay.

Should there be any doubt about a physician’s identity, educational background, registration status, or legal right to practice, the council is to be alerted for prompt verification. Individuals caught providing health services without the requisite registration will face criminal prosecution and stringent penalties.

The issue was first raised by an alliance of private hospitals and nursing home associations, which highlighted several instances where facilities hired persons lacking valid credentials. The West Bengal Doctors Forum welcomed the regulations, emphasizing that they are vital for protecting patients from fraudulent medical practices.