Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
THE MEDICAL Council of Jamaica is reporting that it has been swamped by visits and calls from doctors who are seeking to avoid having their names published because they do not have valid practising certificates.
On Sunday, the Medical Council warned that it would be taking tough steps against doctors who were practising without valid certification - steps which include publishing the names of guilty practitioners in early September.
"There are 2,700 doctors on the register but (only) 1,100 have paid so far," explained Dr. Trevor McCartney, the council's chairman yesterday.
That means about 1,600 doctors are practising without valid certificates.
Dr. McCartney said the practice is illegal and they can be jailed or barred from practising medicine if they are caught.
In a newspaper advertisement in The Sunday Gleaner, the council said all medical practitioners in Jamaica should have a prominently-displayed practising certificate and that it was concerned about the number of practitioners who did not have valid certificates. The Medical Council issues these certificates in January each year on payment of required fees.
The council warned that practitioners could expect no fee waivers and that they must show they have had at least 10 hours of continuing medical education to receive the practising certificate.
The advertisement promised sanctions for late or non-payment of practising certificate fees, such as penalty fees and withdrawal of registration to practise.
According to MAJ President Dr. John Hall, the lack of valid certification has many impli-cations for patient safety and the country as a whole.
"There are bogus practitioners out there prescribing and ordering lab reports and we as a profession have to protect the public and protect ourselves," Dr. Hall said.
