Calendar release for quacks: TSMC seeks explanation from Hyd's Continental Hospital

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) on 6 January issued a notice to the Continental Hospital in Nanakramguda seeking an explanation regarding the calendar release programme for quacks that the hospital had planned to host.

The TSMC sought an explanation from the hospital in a week's time. TSMC took action based on the complaint received from Health Reforms Doctors' Association (HRDA) stating that unqualified persons practising medicine are planning to celebrate the 16th annual calendar inauguration at Continental Hospital on 9 January.

"According to Section 34 read with Section 54 of the National Medical Commission Act 2019, this is unethical," read the TSMC notice.

Dr. Mahesh Kumar, president of HRDA, said the doctors' association was happy the TSMC took immediate action against those supporting quackery. "Such an act by a private hospital is like encouraging quackery. We hope that in future, the TSMC will conduct many more raids in the clinics across the state and take stringent action against quacks," said Dr. Mahesh.

Explaining how such practices by private hospitals could prove dangerous, Dr. Mahesh said, "The quacks would use this opportunity to mislead the public. They use these advertisements to tell the public that they are eligible or qualified."

On 14 July 2022, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board under NMC issued an order to all state medical councils regarding the enforcement of the provisions prescribed under Section 34 read with Section 54 of the NMC Act 2019.

Section 34 says that no person other than a person enrolled in the state register or national register should be allowed to practise medicine as a qualified medical practitioner. Section 54 states that no court shall take cognisance of an offence punishable under this act except upon a complaint in writing made on behalf by an officer authorised by the Commission or EMRB or a state medical council.