In recent developments, medical practitioners have stated their dissatisfaction with the BMC Chief Iqbal Singh Chahal calling for strict actions to be taken against health workers prescribing swab test without physical examination. This has brought severe criticism to the BMC from the medical fraternity.
The BMC on May 17, 2020, stated that if a medical practitioner is found prescribing COVID-19 tests for patients without any symptoms, it could cancel their license, further stating that even an FIR could be filed against them.
The Association of Medical Council has stated that this goes against the Medical Council of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research that recognizes telemedicine as a valid medium for diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the BMC instructions are not in accordance with ICMR guidelines for ‘influenza-like diseases’ where diagnosis based on physical findings may not play a role always.
The BMC had earlier stated that it will take strict action against private medical practitioners who are giving out letters recommending swab tests for the coronavirus without physically examining the patients. While the doctors would be sent notices for cancellation of their registration, the civic body could also get an FIR registered against them.
In its guidelines released on May 12, 2020, BMC had clarified that symptomatic persons should be tested after registered private medical practitioners recommending the same. The civic body had made testing guidelines stringent after many asymptomatic people rushed to get tested after suspecting having the coronavirus. This not only increased the load on testing labs and hospitals but also led to a lag in testing time and results. The civic body had also stopped home testing by private labs without its permission. Officials had further added that many offices and shops, functional under the essential services category, have conducted bulk testing of their employees with the help of such doctors.
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