The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) issued 527 doctor registrations, including 330 provisional and 197 permanent registrations, on October 12 and 13, marking a significant step towards clearing the pending applications. Following the resumption of its full functioning on September 22, the council prioritised the registration process to address the backlog and help medical graduates pursue their careers without further delays. MMC President Dr Sanjay Kadam said that when his team took charge in September, the council had 249 provisional registration applications and 566 permanent registration applications pending. However, the team cleared 527 registrations within two days by expediting the approval process.
Registration Delays Affected Medical Graduates
The MMC had remained under an administrator since 2022 following a court dispute over the council’s electoral process. Although the administrator continued issuing registrations, sources said the process had slowed considerably, particularly from April this year. Dr Kadam emphasised that medical registration is essential for graduates because delays can prevent them from starting internships or appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination. He explained that the application process involves four levels of approval, with the MMC president providing the final clearance. Since several applications awaited his approval, the new team prioritised these cases to resolve the backlog.
Delays Put Resident Doctors’ Academic Year at Risk
The registration backlog also affected 350 resident doctors. Among them, 66 doctors faced particular difficulties because they needed registration certificates to appear for the MD-MS entrance examination scheduled for September 25. Dr Atharva Shinde, president of the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD), said the delay had put these doctors at risk of losing an entire academic year. Following successful intervention by MARD, the Chief Minister’s Office relaxed the mandatory requirement to submit a registration certificate before the examination. However, the doctors had to produce their certificates before the declaration of results. With the MMC now clearing pending registrations and streamlining its operations, the affected doctors are expected to receive their certificates, enabling them to obtain their marksheets and continue their academic progression.
Online Registration Process and Verification Requirements
The MMC processes doctors’ registration applications entirely online. For medical graduates from Maharashtra, the process typically takes a few days. Meanwhile, applicants from other states generally wait about a week because the council must verify their credentials with their respective state medical councils. However, the process can take several months for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). Their applications require verification from the National Medical Commission (NMC), the foreign university they attended and the relevant country’s embassy.
MMC Maintains a Registry of 2.2 Lakh Doctors
The Maharashtra Medical Council currently has approximately 2,20,000 registered doctors. As reported by hindustantimes.com, by clearing 527 registrations within two days, the council has taken a significant step towards addressing pending applications and reducing delays that can affect medical graduates’ internships, postgraduate entrance examinations and professional careers.