Action against Quackery: Telangana State Medical Council sets up special committees

Hyderabad: In a decisive move aimed at upholding the integrity of the medical profession and safeguarding public health, the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) has taken proactive steps to address malpractices through the establishment of Special Legal and Anti Quackery Committees.

These committees, comprising experts in the field, have been tasked with devising strategies to combat unethical practices and ensure stringent adherence to regulatory standards.

The formation of the two panels—a special committee for anti-quackery and a legal committee—comes as a response to the pressing need to clamp down on malpractices prevalent within the medical fraternity. Instituted following Section 8 of the Telangana Medical Practitioners Registration Amended Act 10 of 2013, the decision to establish these committees was formalized during the Emergency General Body Meeting of TSMC convened on 19.03.2024. Subsequently, on 26-03-2024, the Special Legal & Anti-Quackery Committees were officially constituted, with members drawn from the esteemed ranks of TSMC.

In a bid to address a significant concern surrounding the unauthorized prescription of allopathic medicines by practitioners holding degrees in alternative medicine, TSMC has taken proactive measures. The council has lodged complaints with AYUSH authorities, urging swift action against individuals with BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery), and BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) degrees who unlawfully dispense allopathic medications without possessing an MBBS qualification.

The Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) has recently filed 19 cases against quacks engaging in the practice of modern medicine and prescribing scheduled drugs. The Council has also sent notices to around 20 individual doctors and to some of the hospitals, and companies for being associated with quackery. TSMC is awaiting responses from the concerned doctors and hospitals and will take necessary action against them after receiving replies from them. "The Telangana State Medical Council has also sent the notices to around 20 individual doctors and to some of the hospitals, companies who are encouraging the quackery. Their replies are awaited and after receiving replies from them the TSMC will take necessary action against them," TSMC informed in the notice.

Issuing a notice to the doctors and general public on 01.04.2024, TSMC informed that considering the escalating public health risks associated with quackery, TSMC has undertaken inspections of establishments at places where such unauthorized practices are going on. "In light of the escalating public health risks associated with unqualified medical practitioners or quacks engaging in the practice of modern medicine and prescribing scheduled drugs, the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC), in accordance with its authority as per Section 20 (v) & 22 of the Telangana Medical Practitioners Registration Act 1968, (Amended Act No.10 of 2013) Rule 8 of G.O.129 HM&FW, Dated 08-08-2013 and the provisions outlined in Letter No. File No. 15017/56/2022- Regn/025648, Dt:14-07-2022 Order issued for the implementation of Section 34 R/w Section 54 of the NMC Act, 2019, has undertaken inspections of establishments where such unauthorized practices are occurring," read the Council notice dated 01.04.2024.

In the notice, TSMC also informed that as a result of these inspections, the Council has filed 19 cases against quacks. The Council also provided the name of the unqualified persons, the name of the concerned hospital/clinic, the district where they belong, details of the SHO, date of complaint submission, FIR Number and date, FIR Status, the date when the letter was sent to DH, DM&HO & Dist Collector.

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