India, Sept. 11 -- Doctors in Maharashtra will now have to mandatorily display QR codes at their clinics before October 31 for patients to verify their registrations. Failure to follow this could attract a penalty of up to Rs.15,000 and even police action.

This mandate was introduced by the Maharashtra Medical Council on September 9 as part of the state government's Know your Doctor (KYD) initiative against fake or unqualified doctors.

Scanning the QR code embossed on acrylic plates will reveal particulars of the medical practitioners, including their name, qualification, board of registration and even their practicing licence validity period. Such QR codes will have to be displayed at each of their clinics; hospitals too will have to e...