Hyderabad: The Telangana Medical Council (TMC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a 26-year-old pregnant woman in Thungathurthi after treatment by an unauthorised practitioner, exposing a network of illegal sex determination tests and abortions in the region.
An inquiry team led by Dr Gundagani Srinivas and Dr Vishnu visited the town on Sunday and found that Srinivas, who had been running Sai Balaji Hospital without approval for several years, was at the centre of a mafia-like nexus of quacks. Investigators said the group allegedly carried out secret sex determination tests and unlawful abortions, particularly targeting pregnant women from nearby villages.
The accused Srinivas is absconding. “The inquiry will establish how many abortions were performed and how many other such fake doctors are involved,” said Dr G. Srinivas. Police have sealed the hospital premises, while efforts are on to trace the fugitive practitioner.
Locals told the TMC that they had earlier alerted district health authorities to such practices, but no action was taken. “If timely steps had been taken, this tragic death could have been prevented,” they said.
When contacted, Suryapet district medical and health officer (DMHO) Dr Chandrasekhar said such complaints had not reached him as he was only recently posted. He assured that strict action would be taken against quacks performing abortions, administering injections, or conducting surgeries without authorisation.
Officials confirmed that a case will be booked against Srinivas under the provisions of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act.
