Action on fake doctors: Karnataka health dept issues circular

Bengaluru: The government has issued a circular directing strict action against fake doctors and unauthorised medical practitioners in state.

The health and family welfare department, along with the department of Ayush, has listed multiple provisions of law to regulate and monitor medical practices.

The circular says only practitioners registered under recognised medical councils including allopathic, ayurvedic and homeopathic, are permitted to practice. Any person impersonating as a doctor without valid registration will face up to Rs 5 lakh in fine and imprisonment up to three years for repeated offences.

District-level special forces have been set up, consisting of the deputy commissioner, senior police officials, district health officers, Ayush officials, social workers and advocates to send a report every month to the government. Running a medical establishment without registration under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act will attract a penalty of up to Rs 50,000, in addition to immediate closure.

The circular says under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, clinics and health facilities operated by fake doctors without required registration will face action from district-level monitoring committees that include officials from the health department, State Pollution Control Board, local bodies and the Indian Medical Association.

District family welfare officers and hospital quality managers have been designated as nodal officers to ensure enforcement of bio-medical waste rules at the district level.