Maharashtra Medical Council Elections Set For April 3 -...

Doctors from across Maharashtra will elect the new members of the council.

On Thursday, April 3, the Maharashtra Medical Council elections will be conducted, wherein about 1.30 lakhs registered doctors across the state will cast their votes to elect nine members who will administer the medical profession for the next five years.

The elections will be conducted by means of secret ballot, and polling stations will be set up in every district under the supervision of the district collector for free and fair elections.

Voting in Nagpur

In Nagpur, the polls will be held at Hostel No. 3 near the dean’s office at Government Medical College (GMC). The district has 7,670 voters eligible for the election: male doctors—3,941 and female doctors—3,729. Voting will be conducted across 16 polling booths. Voting will happen from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Role of the Maharashtra Medical Council

The sectoral regulation of practitioners in Maharashtra is inexplicably justified by law; the MMC (Maharashtra Medical Council) not only regulates practitioners but also has the power of punishing errant practitioners and carrying out investigations.

With the elected members working over the next five-year term, important decisions will be made affecting both medical professionals and patients. The MMC is currently working under an administrator since these elections had to be held post-Covid-19 pandemic, after postponement. Earlier, it was under the control of a body of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Contestants in the Election

There are various contestants vying for positions on the council from different panels and independent candidates. The IMA has introduced a panel consisting of nine candidates, while the Parivartan panel is also in the running. Besides these, other independent candidates and groups are contesting as well.

Election Rules and Regulations

The district collector’s office has maintained that only registered medical practitioners whose names appear on the electoral roll are eligible to vote. Each voter will be required to prove his/her eligibility through a valid photo ID before being able to cast his/her vote.

Some Important Aspects of the Elections