In an unprecedented move to protect public health, authorities in Telangana have launched a large-scale crackdown on unqualified medical practitioners, filing nearly 500 police cases and shuttering scores of illegal clinics across the state.
The operation, coordinated by the Telangana Medical Council and local police, stretched from the capital’s bustling neighborhoods to smaller districts such as Rangareddy, Siddipet and Nalgonda. Officials conducted surprise inspections, seizing prescription drugs and dismantling makeshift treatment centers run by individuals with no formal medical training.
In Rangareddy district alone, seven illegal clinics were closed in a single mandal. In Siddipet, police booked several people — including former compounders — who were found prescribing and selling powerful allopathic drugs such as steroids and antibiotics without the authority to do so.
The scale of the problem, officials say, has been building quietly for years, often thriving in areas with limited access to qualified doctors. “This is about safeguarding lives,” a senior health official said. “Unqualified practitioners put patients at grave risk.”
To curb the spread of quackery, the Medical Council has set up a dedicated helpline and email service for citizens to report suspicious medical activity. Those convicted under the National Medical Commission Act, the Telangana State Medical Practitioners Registration Act or the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita could face hefty fines and prison sentences.
Public health advocates have welcomed the campaign but warn that without sustained action and greater access to legitimate care, unlicensed practice may resurface in underserved regions.
