Stewardship and governance of the medical profession and the salience of trust: A comparison between the United Kingdom and India

This paper presents a socio-historical and comparative analysis of the regulatory approach to medical practice in two countries with distinctly different health systems in different socio-political and cultural contexts i.e., United Kingdom (UK) and India. The analysis examines if and how the policy approaches have differed or have been similar in the two countries and what has influenced the shape of these policies. Recognising the centrality of trust in the social compact with the medical profession, the tensions entailed in regulating the profession are reflected upon. This comparative analysis helps reveal key policy implications and opportunities for the regulation of professional medical practice, in the two countries and beyond. We highlight the limits of a control based regulatory regime and argue that in India and the United Kingdom alike and argue that the time is right to begin a conversation on a new regulative bargain between the state, the medical profession, and the public – a regulative bargain which is focused on enhancing and maintaining trust