Chhattisgarh Medical Council has directed that all the advertisements should be removed by March 31 this year or strict action will be taken to the extent of cancellation of registration of the doctors thereafter. In a meeting held here on Wednesday, the Council has laid restrictions on advertisements by the registered medical practitioners in the media and set guidelines for advertisements, officials said.
After discussion on various aspects of the advertisements and complaints received in this regard, the Council decided for an immediate restriction on the advertisements by registered medical practitioners which are taken as unethical act according to Code of Medical Ethics Regulations 2002. It was decided in the meeting that the information about medical experts should be displayed within the hospital. In case of opening of new hospital, the information related to the new address, available facilities and medical experts can be published and broadcast only for one month.
In case of expansion of the services and change of location of the hospital, the advertisement is permitted for only a week. Three days advertisement is permitted for services of a new medical expert joining the hospital. Press conference is permitted for any special achievement of the hospital but it should not be paid news. On request of the doctors, the Council permitted for advertisements till March 31. Thereafter advertisements which do not come under the above stated categories if published will be subjected to strict action, officials said.
A separate Media Cell will be set up in the Council Office to monitor it. This will benefit the patients as the treatment cost will come down. The meeting was held in presence of Director, Health Services, R Prasanna and Registrar of Chhattisgarh Medical Council Dr Shrikant Rajimwale.