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Delhi's Quacks Operate Freely Amidst Regulatory Failure
30 Nov
Summary
- Delhi Medical Council has failed to curb quack doctors' operations.
- CAG audit reveals 42% of doctors hadn't renewed registration by May 2022.
- Action taken in only 12% of identified quack doctor cases.
Persistent inaction by the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has allowed quack doctors to flourish across the capital, as revealed by a recent Right to Information (RTI) reply and a performance audit. Data from 2024 shows no cases were forwarded, and in 2025, only one was registered, starkly contrasting earlier years. The DMC clarified it does not conduct anti-quackery raids, shifting responsibility to district health officers, thus lacking direct field-level enforcement.
A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit further exposed severe lapses, including 42% of doctors not renewing registrations by May 2022 and no inspections conducted in 14 complaint cases between 2017 and 2022. Enforcement has been weak, with action taken in only 12% of identified quack cases from 2016 to September 2022. The DMC's Anti-Quack Response Team has also failed to conduct any surprise raids.
Inspection reports from district authorities have been minimal, with very few received by the council annually. Compounding the issue are massive delays in report submission, some exceeding 2,000 days. This ongoing regulatory vacuum and lack of accountability mean unqualified practitioners continue to operate freely, posing a significant risk to public health in Delhi.
