Unlicensed Clinics, Fake Doctors, and Forged RMP Certificates Exposed in District-Wide Raids
Mysuru: In a sweeping crackdown on illegal healthcare practices, the Mysuru District Administration and Health Department have sealed 12 fake clinics operating without valid licenses. Among them, eight clinics were penalized with fines ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh, while two have contested the action in court, and two others are under scrutiny to verify their legitimacy under AYUSH systems (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy).
The action was taken following credible leads and an internal review meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy on July 9, which triggered district-wide inspections.
Fake Doctors, Dual Medication Practices Uncovered
During the raids, authorities discovered that many of these clinics were being operated by individuals with no formal medical qualifications, and some had used fake Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) certificates to pass off as legitimate doctors. Several clinics were prescribing a mix of Ayurvedic and Allopathic medicines, in direct violation of licensing norms.
“Some of these so-called doctors were outright quacks, while others had no authority to practice either system of medicine but continued to run full-fledged clinics, endangering lives,” said Dr. S. Gopinath, District Family Welfare Officer and Nodal Officer under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act.
28 Unregistered Clinics Identified; 12 Already Shut Down
Out of 1,480 registered clinics in the Mysuru district, inspections revealed that 28 were operating without proper registration, with 12 found to be functioning illegally and sealed immediately.
Officials explained that in many cases, individuals started their careers as assistants or compounders in registered clinics. Over time, they learned basic medical routines and then acquired fake RMP certificates through illegal networks to set up their own unauthorized practices.
A Widespread and Growing Concern
“The rise of fake doctors is not limited to Mysuru,” said a senior health official. “Similar cases have been reported in Kalaburagi and other regions, where individuals treated patients without any approval under the KPME Act. This pattern of impersonation and misuse of public trust is deeply troubling.”
The officials stressed that such practices not only defraud patients but also pose serious risks to public health, as improper treatment, wrong medications, and delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications or even death.
Next Steps: Legal Action and Public Awareness
The Health Department has vowed to continue such inspections and urged citizens to verify the credentials of healthcare providers before seeking treatment. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the erring individuals and clinics under relevant sections of the KPME Act and IPC.
Officials are also working to establish a statewide database of licensed practitioners and strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms to ensure that incidents of medical fraud are swiftly addressed.
As fake medical setups continue to proliferate in rural and semi-urban areas, the government is under pressure to take stronger regulatory action and launch public awareness campaigns to prevent citizens from falling prey to medical imposters.
