Probe launched into the authentication of educational degree of top govt official who headed NMC

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has received a complaint regarding the inauthentic educational degree of top government official Dr RK Vats who had headed the National Medical Commission (NMC).

A probe is going on in the complaint received by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding a top government official Dr RK Vats' education degree. He was the first secretary-general of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

As per News 18 report, the matter against Vats has been raised under “rule 377 in the parliament” as he is one of the most powerful officers in the Health Ministry.

The complaint is regarding the genuineness of his post-graduation degree certificate. Dr Vats oversaw the transition from MCI (Medical Council of India) to NMC in 2019. He resigned from NMC in June 2021 and was replaced by 2003 batch IAS officer Sandhya Bhullar.

Vats, a 1986 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, was the financial adviser in the Health Ministry. He held the post of an additional secretary in the Health Ministry with a special charge to head Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) which is part of the vertical for food, drugs, and medical devices regulation.

As per the report, a government official has said, "The inquiry is going on. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is slated to hold a meeting soon on this subject."

As per the government document, Dr Vats' qualification is MBBS (Medicine) and his profile page on the website of the USA-India Chamber of Commerce describes him as MD. The MD is a postgraduate course that candidates complete after their MBBS.

He has headed the four most crucial organisations including NMC, under the Ministry of Health.

He was the Chairman of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the drug price regulator from April to November 2018. He also held the portfolio of Director General (D-G) of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and took charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Health Ministry.

He reportedly also has experience working in the radiotherapy department for three years before joining the administration.

Read more:

• Maharashtra's private medical college loses its recognition for MBBS seats; NMC orders re-inspection
• NMC emphasises again on skill-building facilities in medical colleges