APMC should oversee strict adherence to medical ethics, says Minister Satya Kumar

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council ensures ethical medical practice, registration of doctors, and quality healthcare in the state.

The Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) shoulders the responsibility of not only granting and renewing registrations of doctors but also ensuring that medical ethics and professional conduct are properly adhered to by doctors, said Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Y. Satya Kumar Yadav on Tuesday.

Participating as the chief guest in the swearing-in ceremony of six nominated members of the interim APMC at Dr. NTR University of Health Science in Vijayawada, the Minister said the nominated members should now look into the issue of granting Permanent Registrations to eligible Foreign Medical Graduates after examining their compensatory certificates without any delay.

“The APMC is an important body. Normally, it has 23 members, including 13 elected, 6 nominated and 4 ex-officio members. The system has not been followed for the past few years. But this time, we will ensure that all 23 members are in place,” the Minister said, adding that the chairman too would soon be elected.

Listing out the duties of the council, he said the members should monitor the conduct and performance of medical professionals in the State to ensure that quality healthcare was provided to the people. Healthcare should not be reduced to a business, he said, adding that doctors should treat everyone with empathy.

Calling for a few changes, the Minister said indiscriminate prescription of antibiotics should be stopped and natural deliveries should be encouraged.

The six nominated members of the council who took the oath are: Gogineni Sujatha, MD (Pulmonology), Professor, Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Vijayawada; Kalavakollu Venkata Subba Naidu, Professor of Pulmonology, Ongole; Daggumati Srihari Rao, Radiologist, former Vice-Chairman, APSMC, Tirupati; Swarma Geetha, Gynecologist, Podili, Prakasam district; S. Kesava Rao Babu, president, IMA, Vijayawada, Chunduri Malliswari, a Doctor of Medicine, from Bhimavaram.

Director of Medical Education D.S.V.L. Narasimham and APMC Registrar I. Ramesh were among those present.