Medical Misinformation on Rise: TSMC identifies 35 fake online doctors with large following on social media

Hyderabad: Medical misinformation remains a growing concern in the state, with the rise of fake doctors. Recently, 35 individuals have come under the radar of the Telangana Medical Council (TSMC) for allegedly posing as doctors and offering healthcare advice to the public on social media with an astonishingly large number of followers. 

Claiming themselves as 'medical experts' on social media, these fraudsters have been offering treatment and advice on managing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and infertility. With follower counts ranging from 1 lakh to 3 lakh, they shared tips and recommendations that could mislead and potentially harm innocent people.

Also read- Telangana Medical Council continues crackdown on Clinics of Fake Doctors

After receiving tip-offs on such quacks, the council launched an investigation and found these 35 fake doctors. Among them, some work in small to mid-sized hospitals, while others appear in videos on social media wearing stethoscopes, claiming themselves as doctors. 

During the investigation, the council found that these individuals who make videos giving advice or remedies for diabetes reversal, pancreas detoxification and other issues lack medical qualifications. 

According to the NMC Act, no one should practice modern medicine without MBBS and permission from the Telangana Medical Council. Dr Naresh Kumar, an anti-quackery member of the TSMC, told TOI, "Some of these impostors host live sessions, offering treatments to unsuspecting individuals without any legitimate medical training."

In one such incident, a person with a background in the hospitality sector claims to be an expert in cosmetics and personal care on social media with over 3 lakh followers. This individual previously issued prescriptions for a range of issues, such as obesity, skin discolouration, and sexual health concerns. He is currently under investigation by the council. When the hospital became aware of his illegal practices, they terminated him. 

"Under the law, only qualified MBBS doctors or certified nutritionists are authorized to provide medical or nutritional advice to the public through videos, online sessions, or any other medium. An untrained person offering any nutritional advice, prescribing medications, drugs, or posing as a doctor inside a hospital setting is not allowed as per the law. Such actions are considered impersonation and are punishable," said Dr G Srinivas, Chairman of TSMC.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported a similar incident where a man with only first-aid training for emergencies was found pretending to be a licensed doctor on a popular social media platform, Instagram. The Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) on its path to eradicating quacks recently called out the man for spreading misinformation to the netizens.

The council stated that the fake doctor under the username ‘all in one ram’ with 86,000 followers claimed to be a medical expert after receiving mere first-aid training for working with ambulances. He allegedly duped the people for three months on the social media platform.

Also read- Fake doctor spreading misinformation on social media? Telangana Medical Council makes move