A doctor-s association has demanded that the BMC take back a directive issued by the M East ward office that allows for action against doctors if they prescribe a COVID-19 test without a physical examination.

The M East ward, in a notice on May 17, said that local health officers at the ward may take action such as issue a show-cause notice about cancelling the licence or file an FIR if a doctor does not physically examine a patient first. In another instance, the BMC attached an annexure with an undertaking saying the doctor has done a physical examination to the ICMR-s Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines on testing criteria on May 10.