Maharashtra doctors must display official ‘Know Your Doctor’ QR code plates at every place where they practise by October 31, or face penalties following complaints, the Maharashtra Medical Council has said in a reminder issued across the state.
The council said the requirement follows a government order issued in November last year and is intended to help patients verify whether a practitioner is registered. Patients can scan the QR code on the plate to access a doctor’s registration details through the Know Your Doctor system.
Under the directive, registered medical practitioners must enrol on the Know Your Doctor portal and obtain separate physical plates for each clinic, hospital or nursing home where they consult. The Maharashtra Medical Council said digital screenshots and paper printouts will not be accepted in place of the official plates.
Healthcare institutions have also been asked to ensure that visiting doctors comply with the requirement. The plates must be displayed in waiting areas at the doctors’ places of practice on or before October 31, according to the council’s reminder.
The measure is aimed at improving patients’ ability to identify qualified practitioners and helping curb the practice of unqualified medical personnel. The QR-based system allows the verification process to take place at the point where a patient seeks medical care, rather than relying only on information provided by a clinic or practitioner.
The council said it will not conduct routine field inspections for compliance. Instead, action will be initiated when a complaint is received. A first-time defaulter will receive a warning letter and a 15-day grace period to comply, while a second violation will attract a fine of Rs 5,000.
A third violation will carry a fine of Rs 15,000, after which further disciplinary action may follow, the council said. The penalties will therefore be applied progressively, beginning with a warning and moving to monetary fines for repeated noncompliance.
Doctors are required to complete the enrolment process through the Know Your Doctor portal at www.kyd.co.in and arrange the official plates for every location where they see patients. The October 31 deadline is the next compliance milestone set out in the council’s reminder.
