Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: Forget patients being able to suss out doctors and their credentials, even a doctors’ association struggles to find out if a fellow doctor has a valid degree or specialisation. The Delhi branch of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) is unable to verify if a life member of the association is a genuine dermatologist with a valid MBBS degree and specialisation in dermatology.
Speaking to TOI, the doctor in question, Dr T A Rana, who has a thriving practice in Noida, vehemently denied there was any controversy regarding his qualification. “The confusion was created because I chose to change my name from Tausif Ahmed Khan to Tausif Ahmed Rana in my passport in 2011-12. I got my MBBS degree and specialised in dermatology from Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College affiliated to Aligarh Muslim University. I have every right to change my name if I want to,” said Dr Rana.
According to the minutes of the IAVDL Delhi branch’s executive committee meeting held on March 18, the registration number that Dr Rana gave for Dermacon 2025, a dermatology conferences, 58229, belongs to a Dr Tausif Ahmed Khan, who is shown to have completed MBBS in 2008. “This is contradictory to the fact that Dr TA Rana became a life member of IADVL in 2005-2006. Surname of the registered doctor is also not matching with the concerned life member. Date of birth of Dr Tausif Ahmed Khan mentioned as 30.06.1985, also seems to be contradictory with age of concerned life member,” stated the meeting minutes.
The link to the Uttar Pradesh Medical Council’s medical register does not work. However, when the number 58229, which Dr Rana gave to TOI as his registration number, is checked in the Indian Medical Register, maintained by the National Medical Commission, it shows a Dr Tausif Ahmed Khan who, in 2010, registered his MBBS degree obtained in 2008. If he then specialised in dermatology, it would take two to three more years. No additional qualification shows up for this registration number. The Constitution of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists Delhi specifies that the eligibility criteria for life membership is postgraduate qualification in dermatology.
Dr Rana claims that he had submitted all his qualifications when he became a member. However, according to Dr Himanshu Gupta, the secretary of the Delhi branch, he had become a member in 2005-06 when everything was done manually. “Those records cannot be found. He was given a chance to submit copies of his certificates, which he has not done yet. The executive committee has passed a resolution for his removal from the association. It has to be ratified in the general body meeting, after which the decision is conveyed to the national association. We haven’t complained to the Delhi Medical Council because he is registered with the UP Medical Council and practising in Noida,” said Dr Gupta.
Dr Rana said the controversy was created by a few people in the Delhi state branch who were jealous of the success of the association he established called Face Aesthetic Dermatologists Society-FADS and that he would take them to court for this.
Mayank Rawat
