The Karnataka High Court turned down a petition given by a paramedic who addresses himself as a medical practitioner and demands registration of his private clinic.

The petitioner, Annaiah, is a 57-year-old man practicing medicine in his clinic named Sangeetha Clinic at Mini Ibrahim Road, KGF, in Bangarpet taluk, Kolar District, Karnataka. He completed his Diploma in Community Medical Services from Central Paramedical Education in Mumbai. He claimed that his certificate was provided under the directive of the World Health Organization.

He said that he had been practicing medicine for many years in Kolar. Recently, on September 25, 2023, he was denied registration as a medical practitioner by the district health and family welfare officer under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act, 2007. He also claimed that he practices various forms of medicine, and that includes allopathy as well.

The Court learned from his records that he had a diploma in community medical services with essential drugs (CMS-ED) from the Indian Council of Medico-Technical and Health Care. So the court stated that as a paramedical practitioner, he is not allowed to register under the Karnataka Private Medical Practitioner Act, and he is also not considered a medical practitioner according to the act. The court decided to seize his clinic as it had not been registered by a licensed doctor.

According to Section 2(k) of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act, it is not mistaken and is clear that the qualification of the petitioner cannot make him a ‘Private Medical Practitioner. Because he only has a diploma in paramedical science, that will not qualify him as a doctor, according to the act. He had been prescribing medicines as a practitioner in his private practice in Kolar for many years.

The Karnataka High Court judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna, stated that it is strange for him to see a petitioner addressing himself as a doctor, practicing medicine for many years, and said that it's time to remove people practicing medicine without the required qualification and cheating people in rural areas.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/ Rohini Devi)