Chamarajanagar DC orders crackdown on fake doctors, unregistered scan centres

Deputy Commissioner of Chamarajanagar Shreeroopa has directed officials to identify and take action against fake medical practitioners operating in the district under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act. The directive was issued during a meeting held at her office to review the implementation of the KPME Act and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) programme under the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Ms. Shreeroopa said unqualified persons running clinics without the required educational qualifications must face strict legal action. She noted that six clinics had earlier been issued notices, closed and sealed under the rules, and fined ₹50,000 each under Section 15(1) of the KPME Act. However, only three of these clinics have paid the penalty so far.

Directing officials to issue fresh notices to the remaining three fake practitioners, she said, “If they fail to pay the fine, FIRs should be registered against them.” The Deputy Commissioner also acknowledged several oral complaints regarding excessive treatment charges being levied by private hospitals in the district. She instructed officials to conduct periodic inspections to verify such complaints and take corrective action.

With regard to the PCPNDT programme, Ms. Shreeroopa instructed officials to ensure no illegal activities were carried out at scanning centres. She directed that inspection and monitoring teams conduct regular visits to these centres. Additionally, she ordered that no scanning centre should operate in the district without registration under the PCPNDT Act. Any unauthorised scanning centres found would face legal action in accordance with the law, she told the District Health and Family Welfare Officer, who serves as the Member Secretary of the PCPNDT Appropriate Authority.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner T. Javaregowda, Additional Superintendent of Police M.N. Shashidhar, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Rajesh Kumar, District Family Welfare Officer Ankappa, District Leprosy Eradication Officer Chandrashekhar, Taluk Health Officer Srinivas, and other officials.