Telangana Medical Council Probes Death Caused by Unauthorised Treatment

Hyderabad: In a case highlighting the growing menace caused by unlicensed and unqualified medical practitioners, Munja Lakshmaiah, a 42-year-old resident of Medapalli in Keshavapatnam mandal of Karimnagar, passed away on Wednesday night after he was given IV fluids and antibiotics by a rural medical practitioner, Ch, Madhava Raju, at his Madhu Clinic, without proper medical evaluation.

The Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) has initiated an investigation into the matter. Council member Dr. Seshumadhav announced that a case will be filed against Madhav Raju. He warned of legal action against RMPs practicing beyond their qualifications and conducting unauthorised treatments.

This is not an isolated case where inappropriate treatment provided by unauthorised personnel had led to the severity in condition of their patients. In May, the arm of a woman from Warangal had to be amputated and recently, a child died reportedly due to wrong treatment by fake doctors.

The TGMC has caught 250 fake doctors in raids from April to July across the state and police complaints have been lodged. The Telangana Drug Control Administration (DCA) caught 60 fake doctors with unauthorised stock of medicines and drugs from January to July, as per data shared by the director-general V. Kamalasan Reddy.

“Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the arrest of quacks is not mandated; however, cases have been registered, and prosecutions shall be launched against the offenders,” he told Deccan Chronicle.

A person is allowed to practice medicine only if registered with the Medical Council at the state or national level. Such a person is called a registered medical practitioner.

“Due to the confusion caused by the common abbreviation, these fake doctors take advantage of it and call themselves RMPs (rural medical practitioners). They do not have MBBS degree and are not registered with the Medical Council. Many of them are caught with degrees in pharmaceuticals or lab technician qualifications practicing medicine,” said Dr. Naresh.

The RMPs, who are members of the local community, are usually the first resort for those needing immediate medical aid. At times, the RMPs tie up with corporate hospitals and send their patients for a commission, which can even touch 40 per cent. In such cases, the patients end up paying more.

“They also harass patients while negotiating payments,” said a surgeon from a corporate hospital, located in Rangareddy district.

Now many of these RMPs have moved to urban areas, where they have opened clinics.

“In doing so, they are violating the Clinical Establishment Act as well. The task of conducting inspections lies with the local authorities like DMHOs, district collectors and even DCA. Some officials let them practice by taking bribes,” Dr. Naresh pointed out.

Meanwhile, police have filed complaints against fake doctors caught by NMC except for 12 cases that pending in Bhupalpally and Kataram. Due to pressure from local MLAs, FIRs have not been registered yet, Dr. Naresh told Deccan Chronicle, indicating the clout RMPs enjoy in the system.

Another significant aspect pointed out by Dr. Naresh was that a large number of RMPs are found to be administering steroidal injections to the public, besides IV fluids.

“The DCA is supposed to monitor how drugs reach these individual practitioners while only hospitals or drug stores registered with them are allowed to hold the stock,” he said.