The Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) has uncovered a shocking network of illegal medical practices in Nalgonda district, exposing eight private eye hospitals in Miryalaguda that were operating without qualified ophthalmologists. The inspections revealed a dangerous scenario where unqualified technicians were performing critical procedures, including surgeries, putting patients at severe risk.
Inspections Reveal Shocking Lapses and Fraud
During recent raids, TGMC officials discovered that the eight eye care facilities were functioning in clear violation of medical laws. None of the units had certified eye specialists present on duty, despite having official permissions issued in the names of registered ophthalmologists. Investigations revealed that the approved doctors, in whose names the permissions were obtained from the District Registration Authority, were actually practicing in other cities, allowing their credentials to be misused.
In a particularly alarming finding, the council noted that the hospitals were being run day-to-day by ophthalmology and optometry technicians. These technicians, who are not licensed to practice medicine, were prescribing medicines, ordering diagnostic tests, and performing eye procedures and surgeries without any supervision from qualified doctors. This poses an extreme threat to patient safety and amounts to medical fraud.
Specific Cases of Fraudulent Practice
At Sri Venkateswara Eye Hospital and Shalini Eye Hospital in Miryalaguda, the inspection team identified two individuals holding only MBBS degrees who were falsely presenting themselves as post-graduate specialists with MS in Ophthalmology. Meanwhile, the actual approved specialists linked to these establishments were absent.
The scandal extended beyond hospitals to local pharmacies. At Komala Medical and General Store, the operator, Koteshwar Rao, was identified as a "fake doctor" running an unauthorized first-aid centre equipped with beds. He was found to be administering antibiotics and steroid injections without possessing any medical qualifications. Another individual, Munir, who runs the Friends First Aid Centre, fled the area upon learning about the TGMC inspections.
Legal Repercussions and Council's Action Plan
The TGMC has announced stringent legal action against all parties involved in this unethical and illegal network. Dr V Naresh Kumar of the TGMC stated that complaints for criminal cases will be filed under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act and the Telangana Medical Practitioners Registration (TMPR) Act. These actions will target both the technicians who worked far beyond their legal scope of practice and the fake practitioners.
Furthermore, the ophthalmologists who allowed their names to be used for permissions while practicing elsewhere will face serious consequences. Show-cause notices will be issued to Dr Srikumar, Dr Prabhu Chaitanya, Dr Basheer, and Dr Amar. They will be summoned to appear before the Medical Ethics and Malpractices Committee. Dr Kumar warned that if their explanations are found unsatisfactory, their MBBS licenses could be suspended, highlighting the council's zero-tolerance approach towards such malpractice.
This major crackdown by the Telangana Medical Council underscores the critical need for vigilance in the healthcare sector to protect patients from unqualified individuals and ensure that medical facilities operate with genuine, certified specialists at all times.
