Is your doc legit? Soon, you can scan QR codes to know in Maharashtra

Pune | Updated: June 8, 2024 06:08 AM IST

4 min read

Previously, the MMC had also decided to issue registration certificates having individual QR codes to curb forgery or tampering in certificates. (File Photo)

Soon, doctors will have to display QR codes at their clinics and hospitals to verify their authenticity. The initiative has been taken by the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and authorities said that they are in the process to finalise it.

“Anyone who visits a doctor for consultation at his/her clinic can scan the QR code to verify the requisite qualification. This in a way will also help keep a check and prevent the practice of bogus doctors,” Dr Vinky Rughwani, administrator at the MMC told The Indian Express.

There are 1.8 lakh registered doctors with the MMC. However, an increasing concern over unqualified practitioners has led the semi-quasi judicial body to initiate measures to verify the doctors’ credentials. “We do receive complaints from patients who have undergone treatment and have not recovered. In the past too, measures have been taken and now we are in the process of finalising the new project,” Dr Rughwani said. Previously, the MMC had also decided to issue registration certificates having individual QR codes to curb forgery or tampering in certificates.

Also Read | On the run since 2016, fake doctor who treated patients in Delhi’s slums held

Dr Sandeep Yadav, Chairman, Diagnostic Committee, Indian Medical Association, welcomed the move. “However, it is important that committees set up to check and prevent the practice of bogus doctors at the district and municipal levels meet regularly. For instance, in Sangli, we found that there were several laboratories that were not run by pathologists and were managed by technicians. Committee members need to proactively design strategies to prevent such illegal practices,” Dr Yadav said.

According to Dr Sanjay Patil, state secretary of IMA’s Hospital Board of India, the cases are prevalent in the fringe rural areas. “Due to sustained efforts of the civic health department and the IMA, awareness has been stepped up about the practice of bogus doctors and there is a fair amount of vigilance in the urban areas,” he said.

Also Read | Semi-qualified doctors, lab technician performing surgery: Police bust racket at South Delhi clinic

Recently, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department registered a case against a man who posed as a doctor and was allegedly running a clinic at Karvenagar. Dr Suryakant Deokar, assistant medical officer of health, Pune Municipal Corporation, said that the doctor was not registered with any medical council and prescribed some ayurvedic and allopathic medicines.

Meanwhile, Dr Amit Dravid, an infectious diseases consultant, said that sterner measures need to be taken. “It is important to get tough about quackery. Multiple issues need to be addressed; right from ensuring that the doctor’s registration number and degrees are displayed at the reception desk and on his/her prescription letter pad. Beyond this QR code initiative, more strategies need to be sternly implemented to check the malpractice,” Dr Dravid pointed out.

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IMA’s advisory on fire safety

“Fires at hospitals can be devastating, especially where a large number of people admitted in ICUs may be on life support, and incapable of moving on their own. They need to be evacuated hence there are special requirements that must be met while evacuating such people in case of fire emergencies,” Dr Dinesh Thakare, president of IMA Maharashtra said.

Also Read | Fake doctors racket: CID files first chargesheet against four accused

Considering several mishaps and accidents regarding electrical connections and appliances, gas leakages and inflammable gas problems and fires in recent weeks, the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra) recently issued an advisory on safety regulations that need to be followed to prevent fires.

These include that hospitals should get fire NOCs from the fire department or the B form from an authorised agency; setting up a safety committee and ensuring that large hospitals should appoint fire safety officers in-charge, an emergency command centre and codes for announcements that become functional immediately whenever there is an emergency.

Fire exits should be well defined and signages should glow in the dark and be visible in two languages, apart from ensuring fire alarm systems are properly tested also forms part of the advisory, the IMA said.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. ``Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) "Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. ``At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure "For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. ``Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions X (Twitter): @runaanu ... Read More

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Doctor Maharashtra Maharashtra Medical Council

Is your doc legit? Soon, you can scan QR codes to know in Maharashtra

There are 1.8 lakh registered doctors with the MMC. However, an increasing concern over unqualified practitioners has led the semi-quasi judicial body to initiate measures to verify the doctors' credentials.

IMA’s advisory on fire safety