Crackdown on Quacks: Telangana State Medical Council seeks permission to appoint Vigilance Officers

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2024-04-27T13:15:01+05:30 | Updated On 27 April 2024 1:15 PM IST

Crackdown on Quacks: Telangana State Medical Council seeks permission to appoint Vigilance Officers

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) has approached the National Medical Commission (NMC) with a request to allow the appointment of more vigilance officers to nab criminals who indulge in quackery. This move is prompted by more and more cases of illegal medical practices coming to light after the establishment of TSMC's special legal and anti-quackery committees.

Dr G Srinivas of TSMC explained that during each raid conducted by TSMC, a vigilance officer accompanies the officials. At present, there is only one vigilance officer in the state. Currently, the anti-quackery committee consists of 21 members who conduct inspections and gather evidence for filing FIRs with the police.

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According to the Times of India, the large number of complaints in addition to intelligence reports has highlighted the need for additional vigilance officers. "With the large number of complaints being received on email and WhatsApp in addition to our own intelligence network, we need at least one vigilance officer in each district,” said Dr G Srinivas.

Dr Srinivas noted that at least one vigilance officer per district is necessary to handle the volume of cases. TSMC registrar Ch Hanumantha Rao echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the state medical council has sought clarification from NMC on whether they can appoint more than one vigilance officer. He pointed out that the number of unqualified medical practitioners is significant. Hence, a larger team of vigilance officers is necessary to tackle the issue effectively, reports the Daily.

Rao said, “We are seeking information from the public on quacks practising modern medicine in their areas. Public can inform us on email id: antiquackerytsmc@onlinetsmc.in or on the WhatsApp number 9154382727."

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

Telangana State Medical Council has been actively fighting against illegal medical practices in the state. A few days ago, in a decisive move aimed at upholding the integrity of the medical profession and safeguarding public health, the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) took proactive steps to address malpractices through the establishment of Special Legal and Anti Quackery Committees. The council also filed 19 cases against quacks engaging in the practice of modern medicine and prescribing scheduled drugs.

Telangana State Medical CouncilTSMCNational Medical Commissionvigilance officersanti quackery committeesquack

Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.