Telangana HRDA seeks dedicated task force to crack down on Quacks
Action against quacks
Hyderabad: The Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), Telangana, has urged authorities to take decisive action along the lines of HYDRAA, EAGLE, and HFAST by establishing a dedicated, empowered, and active statewide task force to completely eradicate fake doctors, quacks, and illegal medical practices.
The association pointed out the gravity of the situation, referring to some recent deaths reported from Khammam, Mahabubabad, Jangaon and Hyderabad following treatment, injections or other medical interventions allegedly provided by persons functioning as Rural Medical Practitioners (RMPs)/ quacks/ Grameena Vaidhyulu.
“These incidents demonstrate that quackery is not an isolated local issue but a serious statewide public-health threat, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas,” HRDA stated.
The association further stated, “Curbing quackery cannot be limited to raids. It requires continuous surveillance, coordinated inspections, seizure and closure of illegal clinics, action against illegal drug distribution and effective prosecution of those practising medicine without lawful authority.”
The association appreciated the commendable action by the Hyderabad Task Force and police authorities in apprehending 11 persons allegedly posing as doctors and practising medicine without valid medical qualifications. The seizure of fake medical certificates, medicines, injections and other medical materials during the raids highlights the seriousness of illegal medical practice.
However, the association claimed that the apprehension of 11 persons is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many thousands of unqualified persons operating across Telangana under the guise of Rural Medical Practitioners (RMPs)/ quacks/ Grameena Vaidhyulu, without recognised medical degrees or valid registration. Many allegedly practise modern medicine illegally and engage in mixopathy, including prescribing medicines and administering injections and IV fluids, putting unsuspecting patients at serious risk.
HRDA demanded a task force that should bring together the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC), District Medical & Health Officers (DMHOs), Drugs Control Administration (DCA) and Police Department, with clear responsibilities, accountability and authority for coordinated statewide operations. The doctors also demanded that its mandate should be to identify, shut down and prosecute persons illegally practising medicine and flagrantly violating medical, drug and public-health regulations through continuous surveillance, mapping of suspected quacks and illegal clinics, joint inspections, seizure of illegally stocked medicines and medical equipment, closure of unauthorised establishments and prosecution in accordance with law.
The District Medical & Health Officers (DMHOs) must actively discharge their field-level regulatory responsibilities, while the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) must take firm action against illegal stocking, sale and distribution of medicines, with the Police Department providing necessary enforcement and investigative support.
HRDA has urged the Government to treat the recent Hyderabad Task Force operation as a model for sustained statewide enforcement, rather than an isolated exercise. The reported deaths allegedly following treatment by Rural medical practitioners/quacks/ Grameena Vaidhyulu further underline the urgent need for a statewide, coordinated and zero-tolerance approach.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, President Dr. Karthik Nagula stated, “Quackery is not an alternative system of healthcare. It is unauthorised medical practice that can endanger human lives. Protecting citizens from unqualified practitioners is a fundamental public-health responsibility, and the Government must act decisively to ensure that every citizen receives treatment only from a properly qualified, registered and legally authorised healthcare professional.”
