West Bengal to re-verify 1.1 lakh doctors under KYD drive
The state health department will check the identities and qualifications of all registered medical practitioners following a survey that found fake doctors.
The West Bengal Health Department will re-verify the registrations of about 1.1 lakh doctors across the state through a new initiative called 'Know Your Doctor' (KYD), according to The Indian Express.
Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said on Friday that the decision followed a meeting with the State Medical Council after a sample survey detected several fraudulent medical practitioners.
The drive aims to identify fake doctors, deceased practitioners, those who have moved abroad, or individuals who have stopped practicing medicine.
The verification will use two methods: Manual Know Your Doctor (MKYD) and Video Know Your Doctor (VKYD).
Doctors may visit the State Medical Council in person to submit documents, while elderly doctors or those in remote areas can use video conferencing.
Mukherjee noted that the department will also verify doctors who moved to West Bengal from states such as Odisha, Bihar, Assam, and Jharkhand by sending officers to those medical councils.
The health department is considering replacing its current software to assist the process and has contacted the National Medical Commission (NMC) to seek clarification on any legal restrictions.
An official notification regarding the procedure will be issued shortly, though the minister noted the exercise may take time due to the upcoming festive season.