Protest in Telangana over Medical Council's Anti-Quackery Drive

Hyderabad: The Medical Practitioners in Telangana are protesting against the recent inspections held by the Telangana State Medical Council (TGMC) to curb the malpractices of quackery and registering of police cases against quacks.

Recently, the Association of Rural Medical Practitioners and Private Medical Practitioners (PMPs), under the umbrella of Telangana Grameena Vaidyulu Samaikhya, held a major protest in this regard at Dharna Chowk against the recently conducted raids and police cases against the RMPs by the TGMC.

Medical Dialogues has been reporting about TGMC's anti-quackery drive over the years to eradicate and curb the growing menace of quacks posing as Medical Practitioners across the State. Quacks are unqualified medical practitioners who practice medicine without a valid MBBS degree.

Also Read: Is Telangana facing quackery crises? Medical Council files cases against fake doctors

It has been alleged by the RMPs that the Medical Council was intentionally targeting and harassing them. Accordingly, the rural medical practitioners called for an immediate halt to the TGMC inspections at their healthcare facilities, Telangana Today has reported.

Meanwhile, in response to these allegations, TGMC has clarified that it would continue the raids and filing of complaints with the police against quacks. "TSMC is the concerned authority in Telangana State to raid and file complaints. The Council is simply doing its duty, and it will not stop. Quacks are violating the law, and they will be prosecuted," clarified the Council.

The protest held by RMPs and PMPs has been condemned by multiple associations representing doctors, including Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) and Health Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA).

Condemning and strongly opposing the "disgraceful demands of self-proclaimed RMPs and PMPs protesting at Indira Park, Hyderabad", T-JUDA mentioned in a Press Note, "These illegal quacks, who have no medical qualification or certification, dare to demand legal recognition to continue playing with innocent lives. 'Their call to stop raids by the Telangana State Medical Council (TGMC), prevent legal action, and halt arrests is nothing but an audacious attempt to escape accountability for their dangerous, life-threatening practices."

"These fraudulent so-called "doctors" are already wreaking havoc on public health by recklessly prescribing high-dose steroids, incomplete antibiotic courses and unscientific treatments. leading to drug resistance and an impending health crisis. Their incompetence is creating a silent epidemic. which will push the healthcare system to the brink and place a massive financial burden on the government. If these quacks are legalized, the scale of destruction they will unleash is unimaginable!" it added.

The association further pointed out that the Telangana government has well-established Palle Dawakhanas and Basti Dawakhanas. staffed by qualified professionals to meet the healthcare needs of rural and urban populations and there is no need for unqualified, half-baked, self-proclaimed 'doctors' to be given a free hand to butcher public health.

Further, TJUDA also condemned the support given by Ex-Health Minister T. Harish Rao Garu, and other politicians, officials or authorities that support such "fraudsters". "We hold such individuals equally responsible for endangering public health! If anyone thinks they can legitimize illegal, incompetent medical practice for votes or political gains, they should be ashamed! We pity such leaders who are ready to sell out public health just to cater to lawbreakers," the association mentioned in the release.

"It is a matter of concern that a person who served as a Minister in that department is supporting illegal doctors. Quacks are putting public health at risk with their unscientific methods. This is leading to a health crisis. They insist that Telangana already has qualified medical professionals and government healthcare facilities, including village and basti hospitals. Citing relevant sections of the NMC Act, T-Judah said that the Telangana State Medical Council (TGMC) will continue to crack down on these illegal doctors. We are against any politician, even an official, who supports this quack. T-Judah demands strict laws, immediate arrests, and harsh punishments for this quack and their supporters. Warning that their illegal practices will be stopped.

Commenting on the matter, Dr. Rahul Kommu, the President of T-JUDA said, "It is a matter of concern that a person who served as a Minister in that department is supporting illegal doctors. Quacks are putting public health at risk with their unscientific methods. This is leading to a health crisis. They insist that Telangana already has qualified medical professionals and government healthcare facilities, including village and basti hospitals. Citing relevant sections of the NMC Act, T-Judah said that the Telangana State Medical Council (TGMC) will continue to crack down on these illegal doctors. We are against any politician, even an official, who supports this quack. T-Judah demands strict laws, immediate arrests, and harsh punishments for this quack and their supporters. Warning that their illegal practices will be stopped."

HRDA also opposed the protest held by the RMPs and PMPs and mentioned that "These quacks are not only risking innocent lives but also contributing to a silent epidemic by prescribing unscientific treatments, high-dose steroids, and incomplete antibiotic courses. This has led to drug resistance and an impending health crisis."

Emphasizing that Telangana has enough trained medical professionals to handle healthcare issues, and there's no need for unqualified practitioners to be given a free hand to compromise public health, the association further highlighted, "It's worth noting that the Telangana State Medical Council (TGMC) is authorized to take legal action against quacks under the NMC Act, and HRDA supports their efforts to eliminate these illegal practitioners from the system."

The association has, in fact, demanded stricter laws and ruthless action against quacks and their supporters. "HRDA notify politicians and officials who support these illegal practitioners, holding them equally responsible for endangering public health," it added in a release.

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