AGRA: By 2017, doctors, hospitals and pharmacies in India would have to stop using the signature dark-coloured red plus sign (cross) emblem on their vehicles, ambulances and establishments since the logo, which has been in use for long, is patented for International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and is protected under the Geneva Convention of 1949 to which India is a signatory.
The existing dark-coloured logo is likely to be replaced with a lighter shade of red (90%) but would have either "Dr" or "Rx" written between them, to make it different from the Red Cross Society logo. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of India Medical Association in Agra on April 3 in Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting and these two logos were shortlisted for finalisation from over 100 designs.
Talking to TOI, National General Secretary IMA, Dr KK Aggarwal confirmed that two designs with 'Dr." and 'Rx' written in the middle of the "plus sign" had been shortlisted and the final selection would be made by the Association's central council in December.
"Once finalised, only doctors practicing modern medicine (read MMBS qualified) would be allowed to use these logos", said Aggarwal adding that homeopathy and Ayurveda practitioners would be prohibited to use it. He said even chemists, pharmacies and veterinary doctors would not be allowed to use the new emblem, for which a patent would be filed soon. Incidentally some chemist shops have already stopped using the red logo and shifted to a green 'plus sign'.
President of IMA, Agra, Dr JN Tandon, said while IMA members still use the Association's logo, the logo would be for the use of doctors who are not their members.
Incidentally, the issue of the change of logo has been going on for a number of years but it is yet to be implemented. In fact the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) had asked the IMA to stop the unauthorized use of their logo in 2007 also. But till date, the violation has not been stopped.
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