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Kolkata, July 28, 2026 — In a major administrative restructuring of West Bengal’s healthcare governance, the State Health Department has executed a comprehensive overhaul of the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC). Issued via official notification on Monday morning, the state replaced all three government-nominated council members appointed during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration. The transition marks the first major administrative shift for the state’s apex medical regulatory body under the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The move resets the statutory leadership within an institution responsible for overseeing licensing, professional ethics, and medical standards for approximately 65,000 registered medical practitioners across West Bengal.
Key Changes in Council Composition
The official directive brings an end to the tenure of three outgoing nominated members: Dr. Nirmal Maji, Dr. Sourav Pal, and Dr. Asim Kumar Sarkar. Dr. Maji, a three-term council member and TMC MLA representing the Salboni constituency, had long been a prominent figure in the state’s medical administration. Dr. Pal served as a junior doctor representative, while Dr. Sarkar was closely associated with state medical education.
According to the Health Department notification, the newly appointed state nominees are:
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Dr. Pranat Tudu: A practicing physician and sitting BJP MLA from the Binpur constituency.
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Dr. Kalyan Asish Mukhopadhyay: A medical practitioner actively affiliated with the BJP state doctors’ cell.
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Dr. Mrinmay Adhikari: An assistant professor at Murshidabad Medical College.
The Health Department confirmed that all three appointees are scheduled to assume their official duties immediately to avoid regulatory disruption.
Structure and Function of the Medical Council
Operating under the statutory framework of the Bengal Medical Act of 1914 (as amended), the WBMC acts as the primary regulatory body governing medical practice across the state. The council is structured around a 20-member constitution designed to balance governmental oversight, academic leadership, and peer representation:
| Member Category | Count | Mandate & Origin |
| State Nominated | 3 | Direct appointments by the state government |
| Ex-Officio Members | 3 | Statutory administrative medical officers |
| Academic Representatives | 7 | Elected from faculty across teaching medical institutions |
| General Practitioners | 7 | Elected directly by registered medical practitioners |
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WEST BENGAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (20 Members Total) │
└────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────┘
│
┌─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ State Nominated │ │ Ex-Officio │ │ Elected Members │
│ (3 Seats) │ │ (3 Seats) │ │ (14 Seats) │
└────────┬─────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘
│ │
Government-led 7 Academic /
Appointments 7 Practitioners
The council’s primary responsibilities include maintaining the state register of medical professionals, verifying credentials, investigating formal allegations of medical negligence or professional misconduct, and overseeing Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements.
Background: A History of Administrative Turmoil
This administrative overhaul arrives following two years of heightened public and judicial scrutiny surrounding the WBMC’s operational integrity. Tensions reached a peak following the high-profile 2024 RG Kar Medical College incident, which triggered widespread protests across the medical fraternity demanding greater transparency and accountability within state medical institutions.
Procedural challenges have also surfaced in state courts:
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Registrar Removal: In November 2024, the Health Department ordered the removal of WBMC Registrar Manas Chakraborty, citing that his continuous re-employment since 2019 lacked explicit government sanction—a procedural breach under Section 14(1) of the Bengal Medical Act 1914.
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High Court Directive: In January 2025, the Calcutta High Court ordered Chakraborty’s immediate removal, establishing that failure to resign voluntarily would result in court-mandated dismissal.
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Internal Governance: Internal friction previously hampered council meetings. In November 2024, WBMC President Dr. Sudipto Roy formally requested the removal of former MP Dr. Santanu Sen under Section 9(1)(a) of the Act, citing unexcused absences from six consecutive council meetings.
Expert Perspectives on the Overhaul
Medical ethics experts and former professional leaders note that shifts in nominated membership frequently accompany changes in political governance, given the statutory design of state medical acts.
“The three nominated seats are political appointments by structural design,” explained Dr. Amitabha Ghosh, a senior physician and former president of the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) West Bengal chapter, who is not involved in the current council. “What matters most to the fraternity is whether the council can preserve its regulatory independence, clear pending case backlogs, and maintain objective standards regardless of political transitions.”
Dr. Sharmila Roy, a medical ethics educator based at a Kolkata medical college, highlighted the broader challenge of public perception:
“When statutory boards are viewed through a political lens, it can inadvertently affect public trust in their disciplinary processes. The incoming members have a distinct opportunity to reinforce transparency in how consumer grievances and professional ethics inquiries are managed.”
Implications for Practitioners and Public Health
For practicing doctors and healthcare consumers in West Bengal, the council’s administrative realignment bears direct operational implications.
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Licensing & Registration: The WBMC handles thousands of initial registrations, renewals, and reciprocal practice approvals each year. Streamlining these processes remains a primary demand among junior doctors and medical graduates.
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Disciplinary Adjudication: The council oversees hundreds of pending medical negligence complaints. Fresh board membership could accelerate the review pipeline for long-standing disciplinary cases.
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Public Safety Standards: For patients, the regulatory body serves as the primary mechanism for verifying credentials and ensuring doctors operate within established ethical codes.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a general practitioner operating in Howrah, noted the community’s expectations: “Practitioners simply want an efficient, accessible body that resolves complaints fairly and processes administrative paperwork without unnecessary delays.”
Response and Industry Demands
The political transition has drawn varied reactions across the state. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticized the timing of the replacements, arguing that mid-term seat adjustments disrupt institutional continuity and institutional memory.
Concurrently, independent medical organizations have voiced demands that extend beyond nominated appointments. The West Bengal Joint Doctors’ Forum issued a statement encouraging the state government to hold fresh elections for the 14 elected seats on the council, which were last conducted in 2022. Forum representatives emphasized that long-term structural health requires transparent electoral processes alongside routine administrative updates.
Looking Ahead
As State Health Secretary Shubhanjan Das continues oversight across medical education infrastructure and public health programs, the WBMC faces immediate operational priorities: digitizing medical registries, expediting disciplinary hearings, and restoring broad institutional trust.
The coming months will demonstrate how the updated council balances statutory obligations with public and professional expectations, serving as a key test for healthcare governance in West Bengal.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
News & Official Coverage
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ProKerala. “Major reshuffle in West Bengal Medical Council, 3 nominated members replaced.” ProKerala News, July 28, 2026. https://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a1793360.html
