AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Medical Council (GMC) suspended the medical registrations of three dermatologists from Gujarat for 13 months over alleged misconduct.The doctors, two from Surat and one from Ahmedabad, were among 30 healthcare professionals from nine states who travelled to Paris and Monaco in 2024 for international conferences, with expenses reportedly covered by a biotech company.According to sources at the council, it is one of the few instances in which punitive action has been taken against doctors for industry-sponsored junkets.The doctors facing disciplinary action are: Dr Jagdishkumar Sakhiya and Dr Ami Shah from Surat, and Dr Geeta Patel from Ahmedabad.Dr Sakhiya is the organising secretary of Dermacon 2027, the international conference of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venerologists and Leprologists (IADVL). He is also the president of Gujarat chapter of IADVL, and the founder of a chain of skin clinics.The matter was previously flagged before the National Medical Commission (NMC) after doctors from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Punjab, Karnataka, West Bengal, Delhi, Assam and Keralam were found to have received travel and hospitality benefits – worth over Rs 1 lakh per participant – from Abbvie Healthcare India Pvt Ltd.“Such conduct on part of these medical practitioners is a clear breach of clause/ paragraph 6.8 of the Regulations, 2002,” reads the order GMC, which is with TOI.GMC sources said the doctors were given time to respond to the show-cause notices as they submitted documents and information on Jan 8 and June 29.The order cited The Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices of 2014 and 2024, The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations 2002, and resolutions of the general body and executive committee of GMC on June 30 for the decision.“During the period of removal, the practitioners shall not practice medicine in any form within the state of Gujarat; the practitioners shall not claim any rights or privileges arising out of registration under the Act. Upon expiry of the aforesaid period, restoration of the name in the register shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules, if any,” states the GMC order dated June 30.The order added that the doctors can appeal in accordance with the NMC provisions.Earlier reports stated that a group of doctors had taken a foreign trip worth Rs 2 crore. While some states have begun punitive action against the doctors, certain state medical councils have yet to submit their action taken reports to the NMC.The ethics and medical registration board of the NMC had sent a reminder to the state councils in May this year, asking them to complete the process “expeditiously, in a time-bound manner”.
