Quack arrested after 2-year Fight by Doctors' Association

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major crackdown against fake medical practitioners, a man accused of posing as both a doctor and a nurse in several hospitals without the requisite medical qualifications has been arrested, following a two-year legal battle led by the General Practitioners Association (GPA).

As per the news reports, the accused, a resident of Perambra, was apprehended by the Ambalavayal police in Wayanad following a series of complaints and legal actions led by the GPA. He is accused of forging credentials, including an MBBS degree purportedly from Pariyaram Medical College, and using a fraudulent registration number to gain employment in hospitals across Kozhikode and Wayanad.

The arrest comes on the heels of the Kerala High Court’s recent acceptance of a writ petition filed by the GPA. The petition raised serious concerns over systemic loopholes that allowed unqualified individuals to practice medicine unchecked, endangering countless patients and eroding trust in the healthcare system.

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The incident has reignited concerns about the ease with which unqualified individuals can infiltrate the healthcare system. Dr Basheer also cited another alarming case of a medical college dropout who, after being exposed in Mavelikara, resumed illegal practice by relocating to Idukki. He emphasised that such cases highlight the urgent need for a robust regulatory framework to identify and eliminate medical impersonators.

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The GPA said the authorities took action only after it moved the HC seeking a mechanism to report and prevent medical impersonation. The writ petition specifically criticised the Kerala State Medical Council (KSMC) for its inaction and lack of oversight. “The KSMC refused to acknowledge complaints initially. It only started responding after we named them as a respondent in the case,” Dr Basheer said, reports TNIE.

The Kerala State Medical Council, which succeeded the Travancore-Cochin Medical Councils, is responsible for registering and regulating all modern medical practitioners in the state. However, concerns remain about its ability to enforce standards effectively. As of now, only those registered with the KSMC are legally permitted to practice modern medicine in Kerala.