MMC Tackles Bogus Doctors Amid Rising Cosmetic Procedure Dangers

Maharashtra is facing a surge in unqualified individuals offering cosmetic and dermatological treatments, prompting the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to demand intensified action against quackery. These practitioners, misusing potent treatments like corticosteroids, are inflicting severe and often irreversible damage on patients. Complications include burns, scars, nerve damage, and disfigurement, with social media influencers exacerbating the problem by promoting risky procedures without adequate knowledge.

The MMC has formally requested the state's medical education department to include its representatives and experts on district-level anti-quackery committees to improve conviction rates. Concerns were raised by dermatological associations, highlighting the rampant misuse of steroids and the promotion of treatments by untrained personnel, including beauty parlour staff.

In response, the MMC plans to issue guidelines defining procedures exclusive to qualified specialists and will enforce a mandatory QR code-based know-your-doctor verification system. This initiative aims to curb the rise of bogus doctors and ensure patient safety amidst growing concerns over unregulated aesthetic treatments.