Tamil Nadu Issues SOP to Crack Down on Unauthorised Health Institutions

The Tamil Nadu government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to identify and take action against unauthorised institutions and unapproved courses in the health sector. The move aims to protect students from fraudulent practices and safeguard public health.

According to a recent order from the Health Department, complaints have been received about institutions operating without approval from the central or state government, affiliation to a recognised university, or recognition from a statutory council or board. Even among approved institutions, some offer courses without the required affiliation or statutory sanction.

The issue spans a wide range of health education fields, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied healthcare, rehabilitation sciences, Indian Systems of Medicine (ayurveda, siddha, unani), homeopathy, yoga, naturopathy, and public health. These institutions often mislead students into enrolling in courses at high costs, leading to financial loss, academic uncertainty, and long-term career damage, as well as risks to public health.

Despite previous government instructions, such institutions continue to operate in various places, prompting the need for a uniform framework. The SOP establishes a clear operational framework for district-level action against these institutions, with the goal of taking legal action and safeguarding student interests.

Under the SOP, the Joint Director of Health Services (JDHS) will serve as the nodal officer at the district level. Every year on April 1, the Registrar of Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and Directorate of Indian Medicine must provide the JDHS with district-wise lists of approved institutions and courses.

When a complaint is received, the JDHS will form an inspection team to visit the institution and verify its authorisation, check course approvals, examine student admission records, fee collection, and infrastructure and clinical training facilities. The inspection report must be submitted to the District Collector.

If violations are confirmed, the JDHS will submit a factual report to the Collector. After the Collector’s approval, a complaint will be filed with the Superintendent or Commissioner of Police for action under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, including offences related to cheating, dishonest inducement, forgery, misrepresentation, and endangering public safety and health.

The Collector must take steps to prevent further admissions to unauthorised institutions or unapproved courses and, where warranted, order the closure of such institutions after following due legal process.

The SOP also requires the directorates to publish updated lists of approved institutions and courses on their websites every April 1. The JDHS should periodically compile and circulate the list within the district to the Collector, while institutions must prominently display their statutory approvals, council recognitions, and affiliation details on their premises and official websites.