Jaipur, Rajasthan – In a shocking turn of events, the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC) has been rocked by a major scandal involving the registration of doctors using fake documents. The issue came to light following an investigation, leading to the immediate suspension of three key officials, including the RMC Registrar.

The Controversy Unfolds

On Tuesday, officials announced the suspension of Dr. Rajesh Sharma, the Registrar of the Rajasthan Medical Council, alongside Akhilesh Mathur, Assistant Administrative Officer, and Farhan, Junior Assistant. This drastic action followed an interim report submitted by a five-member committee formed by the State Health Minister, Gajendra Singh Khinvsar. The report revealed procedural lapses and irregularities in the registration process, which led to the fraudulent approval of fake doctor registrations.

New Leadership and Immediate Action

As part of the immediate changes, Dr. Girdhar Gopal Goyal, Chief Specialist (Surgery) at Sawai Mansingh Hospital, has taken over as the acting Registrar of Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC). He will oversee the investigation and ensure that the registration process is reformed to prevent such breaches in the future.

State Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar expressed his deep concerns over the issue, stating, “The issuance of fake registrations is a grave matter. The government will take strict action against those responsible and will ensure that such negligence is not repeated.”

The Five-Member Committee

The probe into the scandal was launched after the State Health Ministry took cognizance of multiple complaints regarding the registration of unqualified doctors. The investigation committee includes:

• Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of Medical Education
• Mahipal Singh, Project Director of PCPNDT
• Dr. Ravi Prakash Sharma, Additional Director (Gazetted)
• Veena Gupta, Financial Advisor
• Dr. Ajit Singh, Additional Superintendent of SMS Medical College

This panel was tasked with identifying irregularities and proposing immediate solutions to restore integrity to the registration process.

Government’s Zero-Tolerance Policy on Corruption

Minister Khinvsar reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, emphasizing that the guilty will face severe consequences. “We will not spare anyone involved in such malpractice. The fake registration of doctors is a serious offense, and those responsible will be brought to justice,” he asserted.

The final report of the investigation is expected to be submitted soon, which will shed more light on the scale of the fraud and those involved.

Advisory to Hospitals and Nursing Homes

The scandal has resurfaced concerns about unqualified doctors practicing in the state. In July 2024, the Rajasthan Medical Council issued an advisory to all hospitals and nursing homes, urging them to rigorously verify the degrees and credentials of doctors before hiring them. This advisory followed reports of hospitals unknowingly employing underqualified or fake doctors, potentially endangering patient safety.

The RMC also reminded doctors working at these medical establishments of their responsibility to ensure  patients receive care only from certified professionals. Failure to comply, the advisory warned, could result in punitive actions under the law.

The Larger Impact on Healthcare in Rajasthan

This scandal has not only tarnished the reputation of the Rajasthan Medical Council but also raised serious questions about the integrity of healthcare providers across the state. The use of fake documents to register doctors jeopardizes the safety of patients and erodes public trust in the healthcare system.

The state government, in response, is expected to overhaul the medical registration process, ensuring stricter background checks and verification methods to prevent future instances of fraud. Hospitals and clinics across Rajasthan are being urged to tighten their internal procedures to safeguard against unqualified practitioners entering the healthcare system.