Ketan Desai, ex-head of the Medical Council of India (MCI) whose medical practitioner’s license was suspended two years ago by the Health Ministry on corruption charges, is back as one of the members of the statutory body.
In 2010, the Ministry had dissolved the medical education regulator in the wake of the scam while suspending Desai and replaced it by a six-member Board of Governors (BoG) of eminent doctors through an Ordinance approved by the President. However, after two years stint under the BOG, the old system seems to be back at the MCI.
On Wednesday, the Ministry reconstituted the MCI with 68 members as per provisions contained in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2013. Following this, the powers and functions of the BoG of the MCI stands withdrawn and the Board of Governor (BoG) of MCI stands dissolved with immediate effect, said a senior health official.
Desai is now part of the statutory body as his name has been recommended among 29 members who have been representing the Universities/Health Sciences Universities from across the States.
States send representatives to the council to represent medical colleges and the state medical council. Desai represents medical colleges in Gujarat.
As per composition of the Council, 23 members have been nominated by the Central Government in consultation with the States, one member (nominated by the Central Government representing the UT administration of Daman & Diu), seven members (representing the registered Medical Graduates of the States) and eight members (nominated by the Central Government), said the official.