Crackdown on illegal clinics in Kalaburagi: 109 quacks nabbed, 43 centres shut

NT Correspondent

Kalaburagi: In a concerted effort to address the proliferation of illegal clinics in Kalaburagi, the health department, in collaboration with law enforcement, conducted sweeping raids across the district, resulting in the issuance of closure notices to 43 health centres.

A total of 109 individuals posing as medical practitioners were apprehended during the operations.

Following multiple complaints, health department officials, accompanied by tehsildars and police personnel, raided multiple locations throughout the district, serving notices to violators found operating without proper credentials.

During the enforcement actions, authorities uncovered 109 impostors masquerading as doctors, endangering the lives of unsuspecting patients by operating unauthorised clinics.

Consequently, cases are slated to be registered against the 109 individuals, with 43 clinics being promptly shuttered by officials.

Furthermore, the health department has issued warnings to several clinics for operating without the requisite Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) license, threatening criminal prosecution if compliance is not met within the stipulated timeframe.

The synchronised raids, conducted in various locales across the district, were prompted by multiple complaints regarding the prevalence of fraudulent medical practitioners in the region.

Last December, the Karnataka government announced the sealing of numerous clinics operated by 1,436 fake doctors since 2007.

Bidar leads the state in reported cases with 423, followed by Kolar and Belagavi with 179 and 170, respectively, indicating a significant presence of quacks, particularly in rural areas.

Under Section 19 of the KPME Amendment Act, 2017, individuals found establishing or operating unregistered private medical institutions are subject to imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.