Maharashtra Medical Council Approves 527 Doctor Registrations in Just Two Days

The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has successfully processed 527 pending doctor registrations within a span of two days, issuing 330 provisional and 197 permanent certificates on October 12 and 13. This significant action comes after the council resumed its full operations on September 22, following a period of administrative control that began in 2022 due to a court dispute regarding its electoral process.

Prior to the resumption, the registration process had slowed considerably, particularly from April onwards, with 249 provisional and 566 permanent registrations pending when the newly elected council took charge. The MMC prioritized clearing this backlog, as the final approval stage had delayed numerous applications, impacting many medical graduates and resident doctors waiting for their registrations.

A medical registration certificate is vital for graduates to begin their internships and take postgraduate entrance examinations. The approval process involves four levels, with the MMC president providing the final clearance. The delays had notably affected around 350 applications, including those of 66 resident doctors who were scheduled to appear for the MD-MS entrance examination on September 25. Dr. Atharva Shinde, president of the Central MARD, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that many doctors risked losing an academic year due to these delays.

Following intervention from MARD, the chief minister's office relaxed the requirement for a registration certificate, allowing affected doctors to proceed with their examinations under the condition that they submit their certificates before receiving their results. With the MMC's operations now streamlined, these doctors are expected to receive their registrations promptly, ensuring they obtain their marksheets without further hindrance.

The registration process in Maharashtra is conducted entirely online, with applications from local graduates typically processed within a few days. However, applications from other states may take about a week due to the need for verification by the respective state medical councils. For foreign medical graduates, the process can extend to several months, as it may require validation from the National Medical Commission, the foreign university, and the embassy of the respective country. With approximately 2.2 lakh registered doctors in Maharashtra, the recent clearances are anticipated to alleviate delays for many graduates and resident doctors awaiting their registrations.