A worrying rise of dodgy ‘doctors’ in Telangana Premium

Telugu actress's botched Botox treatment exposes rampant medical malpractice in Hyderabad, leading to crackdown on unqualified practitioners.

On a sunny afternoon in June, a popular Telugu film actress walked into a four-storey building in Kukatpally Housing Board Colony, a plush neighbourhood of Hyderabad dotted with hospitals, dental clinics and salons. The actress, in her late 30s, was looking for a routine beauty-enhancing procedure and zeroed in on ‘Layers Skin and Hair Clinic’, located on the third floor of the building. Above the signage of the clinic was a reassuring name: ‘Prystyn Care – Simplifying Surgery Experience’. But what began as a quest for self-care soon spiralled into a harrowing ordeal.

She opted for Botox treatment, a procedure meant to smooth out wrinkles on her face and restore a youthful glow. However, within days, her once-radiant smile was replaced by an unexpected swelling that was painful too. Overcome by distress and desperate for answers, she turned to the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) for help. Her complaint led to an investigation that uncovered a shocking truth: the so-called dermatologist who had administered her the treatment had only a dental degree.

The revelation was as painful as the botched procedure itself. This wasn’t just a case of a treatment gone wrong; it was a blatant violation of trust and a breach of medical ethics. The TGMC wasted no time in taking decisive action, filing cases under Section 34 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations and shutting down the clinic with immediate effect.

“It has been nearly two months since the incident and my face hasn’t healed. The medical council has already taken action, but I will also be filing a case against the clinic soon,” the actress says.

This incident, however, was only the tip of the iceberg. The same month, five teams of the TGMC conducted a series of raids across 40 skin, laser, hair, and cosmetology centres in Hyderabad, including upscale areas such as Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Madhapur, Hitech City, Kukatpally, and Miyapur. The findings were grim: three fake doctors were identified, FIRs were filed against them, and 20 centres were found to be operating sans qualified dermatologists or plastic surgeons, and also without necessary permissions from the District Registration Authority. Further, the raids revealed that Ayurvedic and homoeopathic practitioners were performing laser treatments beyond their scope of qualifications.

According to NMC guidelines, only doctors with specialised medical education should perform treatments such as cosmetology, laser therapy, PRP (platelet-rich plasma)therapy, hair transplantation, dermatology, and plastic surgery, says TGMC vice-chairman Gundagani Srinivas. “This standard is crucial in ensuring patient safety and maintaining the integrity of medical practice,” he points out.

As the only government-authorised independent regulator for doctors in Telangana, the TGMC’s mandate is to protect, promote, and maintain public health and safety by ensuring that doctors adhere to the standards of good medical practice. The council fulfils this responsibility by controlling entry to the medical register and setting rigorous standards for medical schools, postgraduate education, and training.