The West Bengal Health Department is launching an extensive verification process for 1.1 lakh registered doctors following complaints of fake credentials.
Exactly 1.1 lakh educational certificates issued by various universities since 1996 will undergo re-examination through a newly introduced "Know Your Doctor" protocol.
WBMC Mandates Credential Re-Verification for 1.1 Lakh Practitioners
- The Scope: 1.1 lakh medical practitioners registered with the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) since 1996 face mandatory re-verification of their credentials.
- The Protocol: The state is deploying a “Know Your Doctor” (KYD) drive, modeled after KYC frameworks, utilizing both manual and video-based verification handled by an external agency.
- The Cleanup: The audit will purge records by permanently removing deceased practitioners, doctors living abroad, and those no longer practicing medicine.
Verifying Credentials Across Three Decades
The West Bengal Health Department has decided to launch an extensive verification process to verify the educational qualifications of 1.1 lakh doctors registered with the WBMC since 1996. State Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee stated that a large number of fake doctors have been identified in current registration records, necessitating a complete re-examination of credentials.
“A large number of fake doctors have been identified in our registration records. We will re-examine the credentials of all such individuals. The 1.1 lakh certificates issued to doctors by various universities will undergo a fresh verification process,” Mukherjee said.
To conduct the audit across nearly three decades of medical registrations, the state will roll out a new verification mechanism handled by an external agency. The administration assures that existing registrations remain valid until fresh guidelines are officially issued.
| Metric / Parameter | Details of Verification Drive |
|---|---|
| Target Registrations | 1.1 lakh doctors |
| Timeline Covered | Registrations since 1996 |
| Verification Protocol | “Know Your Doctor” (KYD) drive (manual and video-based) |
| Executing Entity | Third-party private agency |
Implementing the KYD Protocol
The government’s new “Know Your Doctor” (KYD) drive mirrors standard know-your-customer banking protocols by collecting all relevant documentation through manual and virtual sessions. According to details, senior citizens, medically vulnerable practitioners, and those living far away can complete the process via video conferencing.
“For those who are elderly or live at a distance and are unable to travel, verification will be conducted via video conferencing. The entire process will be verified by a third-party agency. An official notification will be issued shortly,” Mukherjee added. The state health administration intends to update council rolls by expunging records of deceased individuals and doctors residing abroad.
The administrative sweep follows allegations of irregularities involving medical registration certificates. Complaints were formally lodged with the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate against the president, vice-president, former registrar, a legislator-member, and other council officials.
Political Parties Clash over Healthcare Administrative Oversight
The sweeping credential audit triggered an immediate political exchange across the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party criticized the Trinamool over administrative oversight in the healthcare sector during its previous tenure.
“What has happened in the state once ruled by Trinamool, perhaps nothing like this has happened in any other state of India. It’s the Diamond Harbour party’s diamond model,” Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said, referencing Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee and his constituency.
Meanwhile, the ruling party dismissed the justification behind the sudden regulatory review. Trinamool MP Saugata Roy questioned the premise of subjecting medical practitioners to a special intensive revision exercise, drawing parallels to electoral roll disputes.
“I don’t know what they are talking about. I don’t even know Sharadwat Mukherjee, nor do I know anything about him. I have no idea what he’s saying. It has never happened that a doctor undergoes SIR,” Roy said.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
