The West Bengal Health Department has issued new protocols requiring private healthcare establishments to verify the registration, educational qualifications and eligibility of doctors before appointing them, in a move aimed at preventing unqualified and fake practitioners from providing medical services.

Under the new protocol, private medical establishments must verify the registration numbers and relevant documents of doctors before allowing them to practise. The directive reinforces the requirements under Rule 7(4) of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Rules, 2017, which requires clinical establishments to ensure that healthcare providers have valid registration, recognised qualifications, appropriate training and relevant experience.

The rules require healthcare establishments to collect and verify documents relating to a practitioner’s registration, qualifications, training, experience and professional skills. Where there is doubt about the validity or appropriateness of a doctor’s registration or qualification, the matter must be referred to the competent state authorities for verification.

The latest directive comes amid concerns over individuals allegedly practising medicine using forged qualifications, fake registration numbers or identities. The Health Department has directed licensing authorities to remain vigilant, while private healthcare facilities have been asked to immediately report doubts concerning a doctor’s identity, qualifications, registration or right to practise to the relevant medical authorities.

The state has also stated that individuals found providing medical services using a fake identity or without valid registration and authorisation could face legal action and severe punishment. The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes had earlier raised concerns about private facilities employing individuals without valid registration, while the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum has welcomed the government’s move.

The initiative comes alongside wider efforts to strengthen verification of medical professionals in West Bengal. The West Bengal Medical Council has also issued an urgent document-verification notice for doctors and has been preparing measures to scrutinise registrations and identify fraudulent practitioners.

The latest protocol is expected to strengthen patient safety, professional accountability and credential verification across private healthcare facilities in West Bengal, ensuring that only appropriately registered and qualified practitioners provide medical care.