More than 960 quacks traced in Karnataka over past 1.5 years

Bengaluru: The state health department has traced and taken action against as many as 967 quacks or fake doctors over the past 1.5 years.

According to health department data accessed by DH, between September 2023 and January 2025, the state health department has found at least 967 fake doctors operating across the state.

Out of this large number, the district health and family welfare officers have served notices to 449 'doctors' and closed 228 clinics, besides seizing 167 clinics and penalising 96 people as of last month. More than 70 cases have been filed at various district courts.

During this period, Bidar (213), Kolar (115) and Tumakuru (112) districts recorded the highest number of fake doctors, which, according to Dr Vivek Dorai, deputy director at the state health department, could be also because they are border districts, enabling people from other states to easily enter and temporarily operate as doctors for a few hours every day. 

These districts also don't have a high concentration of government and private health facilities like Bengaluru does. "Health officers are also overburdened; they cannot check every establishment in Bengaluru but in other districts, where the total number of establishments is lesser, it's easier to conduct inspections," said Dr Dorai, who oversees Medical Acts in the state.

Fake doctors include those who are unqualified, those who might be qualified but not registered and recognised under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, doctors engaging in cross practice — which means practicing a different medical system than the one they are trained in — or not complying with the regulations outlined by the KPME.

The health department also considers practitioners following familial traditions, but with no formal degree and training, and those practicing acupuncture and other forms of traditional medicine that are not regulated by a board or council as fake doctors under the Act, Dr Dorai noted.

"Many supportive staff, such as D-group employees, who would have observed the actions of a doctor and nurse, start their own practice as a 'doctor' elsewhere. They might even forge a degree document or obtain a general degree from a small institution in the meantime," he explained.

Grave instances of violation, such as an unqualified quack conducting a procedure that leads to complications or even death, can attract up to Rs 1 lakh in fine and up to three years in jail. Cases are filed by the taluka or district health officers at the district court, which go to the Grievance Redressal Authority for KPME chaired by the district’s deputy commissioner. 

Unregistered practitioners are usually fined but not jailed because they might be qualified, Dr Dorai added. "Action to be taken is detailed in the Act but we also adopt a case-by-case approach”. Those accused can appeal the decision in the high court.