Karnataka Vows Crackdown on Fake Doctors and Illegal Clinics

On November 11, 2025, the Karnataka government issued a directive to health officials, ordering them to initiate strict action against fake doctors and private medical establishments employing unqualified practitioners. The directive cites various provisions of the Karnataka Ayurvedic, Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani and Yoga Practitioners' Registration and Medical Practitioners' Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1962, and the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007.

Under the 1962 Act, only registered medical practitioners are permitted to practice medicine, surgery or midwifery. Unregistered individuals found practicing in violation of these provisions face hefty penalties, including fines up to ₹25,000 for the first offense, ₹2.5 lakh and one-year imprisonment for the second, and ₹5 lakh and up to three years' imprisonment for subsequent offenses.

The Karnataka government has also empowered the KPME Act, 2007, to crack down on medical establishments employing unqualified or fake doctors. Running an unlicensed establishment can result in imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to ₹1 lakh. Additionally, such establishments can be penalized up to ₹50,000 and ordered to close immediately.

The directive aims to address the growing issue of unqualified practitioners and illegal medical facilities in the state, ensuring that only licensed and qualified professionals provide healthcare services to the public.