75 percent Quacks Operate in Cities, Telangana Doctors call for action

Hyderabad: During a recent debate titled "Public Health? Immediate Need for Action Against Quackery," organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana, it was revealed that 75% of fake doctors in the state are based in urban areas, particularly Hyderabad. This finding challenges the common belief that quackery is more prevalent in rural regions due to a shortage of qualified doctors.

Despite being home to some of India's top government and private hospitals, Hyderabad has emerged as a major hub for unqualified medical practitioners.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) has recently taken legal action against 12 individuals for illegally practising medicine. Of these, eight practised in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas, while the remaining four were located in various districts.

Also Read: Telangana's Crackdown on Quacks: 12 FIRs Registered

Speaking to the Hindu, IMA Telangana president Dwarkanath Reddy stated that quackery has existed for decades, with individuals practising medicine without proper qualifications under the guise of Rural Medical Practitioners (RMPs) and Private Medical Practitioners (PMPs). A writ petition filed in the Telangana High Court led to an order stating that only registered doctors can practice medicine, further underscoring that certification programs for RMPs and PMPs should not be allowed.

According to Ashok Reddy, chairman of IMA Telangana’s Anti-Quackery Unit, the state performs better than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended ratio of one doctor per 1,000 people, with a doctor-to-population ratio of 1:800.

The debate over RMP and PMP certifications has been ongoing for years. In 2009, under then-Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a Government Order (GO) was issued to provide a structured syllabus and first-aid training for RMPs and PMPs. However, after his passing, the initiative was halted, leaving a gap in healthcare support services.

Dr. Govinda Reddy, a urologist and JVV member, suggested an alternative approach: reviving community paramedic training. He emphasized that instead of allowing non-MBBS healthcare workers to practice medicine, they should be properly trained for limited, well-defined roles.

Also Read: TSMC Crackdown on Quackery, 400 FIRs filed against Quacks

According to the Hindu, Ramesh of JVV noted that while 10,000 MBBS doctors, 5,000 specialists, and 3,0000 super-specialists graduate in Telangana each year, some districts like Nalgonda and Gadwal still lack MBBS doctors in government health centers. Even within Hyderabad, doctors are not reaching urban slums, said G. Srinivas, vice-chairman of the Telangana Government Medical College.