1,200–2,500 unregistered doctors in Hyderabad, finds Telangana govt audit

Hyderabad: An estimated 1,200 to 2,500 MBBS doctors in Hyderabad are not registered or have not renewed their licenses with the Telangana Medical Council. This revelation has led to a massive crackdown by the district health officials.

How many doctors are there in Telangana?

There are 45,000 doctors in Telangana, of which 18,000 are practicing in Hyderabad City, but a six-month survey by the government has shown that there are doctors who have not registered even once and others who have not renewed registration in the last five years.

Significance of registration of doctors

A registered doctor has to display their certificate and only then can practice in the city. This helps filter the quacks, explained the district medical and health officials of Hyderabad.

“Even if a doctor is qualified but has not registered with the Telangana Medical Council (TMC), it is a lapse as they are practicing with expired licenses. That is a violation,” explained a senior health official in Hyderabad.

How were the doctors in Hyderabad audited?

Hyderabad Collector Harichandana Dasari had asked the health officials to audit 4,000 clinics and hospitals in Hyderabad.

This six-month audit was carried out from August 2025 to February 2026.

The audit found that 224 establishments in the Hyderabad/Secunderabad areas violated the norms of TMC.

As many as 26 violators were identified in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district.

What was found in the audit?

The survey helped to identify:

1. No qualifications: Illegal quacks practising allopathic medicine. The government is set to register criminal cases against them.

2. Lapsed registrations: Despite having an MBBS degree and/or an MD degree, some doctors were found to be practicing with expired licenses. The licenses were not renewed, which is an administrative violation. These doctors have been served show cause notices.

A senior official of the district medical and health department said, “These establishments have been served show cause notices with temporary suspension. They have been given seven days to renew their license and reopen clinics.”

A Telangana Medical Council staffer said, “Doctors with expired licenses must be mindful and get them renewed. Failing to do so will attract a penalty.”

Which hospitals did the audit focus on?

The scope included not only allopathic hospitals but also AYUSH centers, dental clinics and diagnostic labs, focusing on valid registration, staff credentialing and infrastructure safety.

These actions are based on GO 229, through which the State government wants to ensure that there is proper administration and accountability in the system of the medical council.