Unlicensed practice uncovered across Hyderabad outskirts
Hyderabad: Teams from the Quthbullapur Special Operations Team (SOT) and the RC Puram zonal unit, working with local police, raided multiple clinics in the Medchal‑Malkajgiri and Sangareddy districts and arrested 10 individuals for allegedly operating medical setups without the required qualifications or valid credentials, police said on Thursday.
Authorities identified the accused as Vurkala Buchaia, Mothukuri Sudhakar Chary, Darmagouni Anja Goud, Ramawath Prakash, Mekala Akshay Kumar, Kodi Narayana, G Prahalad, Konapala Buchi Babu, S Srinivas Rao and P Gangaram. The raids were carried out after intelligence inputs about unlicensed medical practice at small clinics in the two districts, the Quthbullapur DCP N Koti Reddy said.
Equipment seized; some clinics offered paediatric consultations
Police said they recovered common medical tools from the premises. Items seized included stethoscopes, blood‑pressure monitors and thermometers, along with other equipment used in basic clinical care. Some of the clinics were reportedly providing paediatric consultations and even had beds for admitting patients.
- Number arrested: 10
- Districts involved: Medchal‑Malkajgiri and Sangareddy
- Key items seized: stethoscopes, BP machines, thermometers and other medical equipment
| Seized item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Stethoscopes | 10 |
| BP machines | 9 |
| Thermometers | 10 |
| Other medical equipment | Not specified |
The DCP said the accused were found running clinics without the required medical qualifications or valid credentials. While police did not detail the exact legal provisions under which the suspects were booked, operating a medical practice without registration or recognised qualifications can attract charges under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and state laws regulating healthcare practice.
Public‑health implications and policing response
Unlicensed medical practice raises concerns about patient safety, misdiagnosis and the misuse of prescription medicines. Clinics offering paediatric services or admitting patients increase the risk to vulnerable groups, including infants and elderly persons, if care is provided by unqualified persons.
Local police units have in recent years stepped up operations against illegal medical practice in the Hyderabad metropolitan periphery, responding to complaints and intelligence from civic agencies. Such crackdowns aim to protect patients and ensure that healthcare delivery remains under the supervision of licensed professionals.
Law enforcement sources said further investigations would examine how long the clinics had been operating, whether licensed practitioners were involved in any supervisory capacity, and if any prescriptions or controlled medicines were dispensed without proper authorisation. The seized equipment will be catalogued and held as evidence while enquiries continue.
What patients and residents should know
Residents are advised to verify the credentials of practitioners before availing services at small clinics. Basic checks include asking for registration numbers, qualification certificates and details of any supervising doctor, as well as seeking referrals or reviews from known patients. For urgent care, patients are recommended to approach government hospitals or accredited private facilities where practitioner credentials are verifiable.
Those with information about suspected unlicensed clinics can report to their local police station or the nearest health department office. The state health department periodically issues advisories about registered practitioners and recognised facilities.
Police said further action and any formal charges will be disclosed after completion of the ongoing probe. The identities of the arrested persons and the equipment recovered were provided to facilitate prosecution and to alert the public about the incident.
Reporting from Hyderabad.
