IMA patents new logo for MBBS docs
The initiative aims to check unauthorised people practising allopathy
Vishal Joshi
Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, July 28
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has patented a new trade logo to establish the identity of MBBS doctors.
The IMA says the initiative will be used as a counter for quacks and unauthorised doctors, as only MBBS and higher medical degree holders will be permitted to use the new logo.
Dr AP Setia, state president of the IMA, told The Tribune today that the IMA had patented the new logo with "Dr" in the middle of the ‘plus’ sign and is protected under the Trade Mark Act, 1999.
A red colour ‘plus’ with "Dr" written in the middle would make it different from the Red Cross Society logo.
Dr Setia said patients would be the beneficiary as it would help them identify a qualified allopathic doctor on the basis of an officially verified trade insignia.
“A special drive will be launched to sensitise people about which qualified doctor they should approach for allopathic treatment,” he added.
He said it was widely felt that several registered medical practitioners (RMPs) and individuals not authorised to prescribe allopathic treatment were practising unhindered. "The patent of the trade logo has now given us a legal tool to differentiate between an MBBS doctor and an unauthorised medical practitioner," he added.
Setia said the Union government’s trade mark registry had registered the mark as an intellectual property of the central division of the IMA. Now, only MBBS doctors practising modern medicine would be allowed to use the logo. Homoeopathy and ayurveda practitioners would be barred from using it.
“The state unit got a communication regarding the new logo from its central division on Thursday. It will be promoted widely among the association members and general people. Pharmacies, chemists and veterinary doctors will not be allowed to use the logo. Those using the trade logo unauthorisedly will be liable for legal action,” he said.
Allopathy, homoeopathy or other doctors across the country are using only one logo. But the IMA wanted a separate logo for allopathy doctors and it had been making efforts for it for the past few years.
