Support For Quacks Risks Health Crisis: IMA

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana State Committee today strongly urged political parties to immediately stop encouraging unqualified quack doctors for electoral benefits.

The association strongly opposed any attempts to legitimise unqualified individuals under the law for political and electoral gains.

In a statement, IMA Telangana President Dr Duvvuru Dwarakanatha Reddy and Action Committee Chairman Dr Ashok Reddy warned that such actions could lead to a severe health crisis in Telangana. They said that quacks were operating as self-proclaimed doctors, setting up clinics in villages and towns, and recklessly prescribing excessive doses of steroids and medications to both children and adults, endangering lives. They warned that this dangerous practice was pushing Telangana toward a major health crisis.

They said that quacks were qualified only to provide first aid, and called for an immediate ban on their illegal medical practices to safeguard public health.

They urged authorities to take immediate action, reminding them that under Section 34 of the National Medical Council (NMC) Act, practicing medicine without proper qualifications was strictly prohibited. Also, under Section 54, such individuals needed to be treated as offenders and face legal consequences, they added.

The IMA Telangana demanded that both the State government and the National Medical Council take swift action against quacks and ensure strict enforcement of the law to prevent further risks to public health.