Hyderabad cracks down on fake MBBS doctors
HYDERABAD: The state health department has stepped up action against unregistered and fake doctors operating in the city, warning of strict legal measures if mandatory registration norms are not followed.
Senior officials have directed that every doctor working in private hospitals and nursing homes in Hyderabad must be registered with the Telangana Medical Council (TMC). Doctors who fail to comply will face legal action.
Authorities said several fake clinics and hospitals have been mushrooming across the city, with unqualified individuals posing as doctors. Despite lacking recognised qualifications, some are practising medicine and misleading patients.
In several cases, individuals holding only an MBBS degree are allegedly displaying MD and other postgraduate qualifications on clinic boards and prescriptions. Others, with limited experience as compounders in hospitals, have reportedly opened clinics in residential localities and bastis, claiming to be doctors.
Officials said many such clinics are operating with fake MBBS and other degrees, turning the practice into an organised business in several areas. During inspections conducted by TMC officials over the past few months, several fake clinics were exposed. Around 300 fake doctors have been identified and cases have been registered against them.
Despite this, officials said the illegal practice continues in many localities, with such practitioners prescribing antibiotics, steroids and other medicines unnecessarily, posing a serious risk to public health.
Doctors asked to correct registration lapses
Greater Hyderabad has around 5,000 hospitals and clinics, both small and large. Ranga Reddy District Medical and Health Officer Lalitha Devi said some doctors are practising without registering with the medical council, while others have registered only their MBBS degree but failed to register postgraduate and other qualifications.
She advised doctors working in private hospitals to verify whether their TMC registration certificates and qualification records are in order and to rectify any lapses immediately. “If violations are found during inspections, legal action will be initiated,” she warned.
