Mumbai doctors welcome QR code initiative to boost healthcare transparency and patient trust | File Photo
Mumbai: The senior doctors in the city have welcomed the notification by the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) which mandates the doctors to display Quick Response (QR) code outside private clinics to under its ‘Know Your Doctor’ (KYD) initiative, which is also intended to prevent fraudulent medical practices.
Recently, the MMC issued notification to around 1.4 lakh registered doctors in the state which mentions, “Aimed at empowering patients and enhancing transperancy in the healthcare system, MMC has launched the KYD Platform, which will serve as a comprehensive tool to help patients make informed decisions by providing verified information of authenticity of their doctors.”
Former dean of Mumbai’s BMC-run Nair hospital, Dr Ramesh Bharmal said, “Maharashtra continues to face significant challenge with unlicenced and fraudulent medical practices, which poses a serious risk to patients lives, especially in rural areas. The QR code initiative is a welcoming step. If the doctors are registered and genuine there should be no objections to display informations. This will help patients to trust their doctors even more.”
Dr Bharmal added that even today several rural areas where the nurses and computers perform surgery or give emergency treatments due to lack of trained medical practitioners. It is important that higher number of registered doctors to reach vulnerable areas.
Dr R.G Sinhasan, a senior general practitioner located in Chembur, who has recieved the MMC notification said,” I would not mind to display the QR code mentioning my qualifications and registration details. It will benefit my patients. As per my information, we have to upload our documents and pay some basic amount to register for KYD and get the QR code. However, I hope MMC ensures that in this process, the fake doctors too do not get the QR code, which can fail the entire initiative.”
As per the MMC notification, the features for the KYD Platforms are : Doctor Verification (Authenticity and up-to-date credentials and licences), Speciality Details (Doctor’s area of expertise) and Convenient Access (Patients can scan the QR code from their smartphones everywhere to know their doctor).
Although, senior doctors are welcoming this transperancy, the opposition panel at the MMC is opposing this notification. Notably, the notification is issued days before the MMC elections, which are scheduled on April 3. Speaking to media, a representative from Healing Hands Unity Panel said that the QR code rule is unnecessary when the doctors display their certificates and awards in their clinic, showing their credibility.
A head of department from a well- known private medical college in Navi Mumbai, who did not wish to be named said, “To address the rising problem of fake doctors, initiative like displaying QR code is welcoming. The doctors should avoid opposing a move just for the sake of opposition. They should think in terms of transperancy which will benefit the patients first, respect the holistic profession we are in and support good initiatives.”
