Unregistered Electro-Homeopathy Practitioner Charged for Operating Illegal Clinic in Pune

In Pune's Hadapsar area, police have filed a criminal case against an unregistered electro-homeopathy practitioner accused of illegally running a clinic in Manjari and prescribing allopathic medicines without the necessary qualifications or registration. This action followed a formal complaint by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)’s medical officer, Dr. Swatee Ghanwat, who oversees medical regulations in the Hadapsar civic ward.

According to officials, Dr. Ghanwat's investigation stemmed from a previous field report from the PMC's legal department, which raised concerns over the clinic’s legal status. The Hadapsar police acted promptly, invoking charges under Section 33 (2) of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961, which prohibits unregistered medical practice.

This case marks the second incident this month involving unregistered practitioners in Pune. Earlier, the Warje police had charged a 43-year-old clinic owner for similar violations, as he was treating patients with alternative therapies such as BEMS (Bachelor of Electro-Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery) and ND (Naturopathy Doctor) qualifications, specifically for conditions like piles. Despite growing interest in electro-homeopathy as an alternative therapy, the lack of regulatory oversight raises questions about the safe practice of these methods.

PMC’s assistant medical officer, Rajesh Dighe, explained that the Hadapsar ward office first identified concerns with the practitioner’s qualifications through the diligent efforts of Dr. Snehal Kale, who had initially recommended action. However, after learning of the investigation, the suspect reportedly closed his clinic and briefly went into hiding. A subsequent inspection led by Dr. Ghanwat uncovered that the practitioner had resumed operations under a new clinic name. With evidence showing the individual was unregistered with any of the recognized medical councils, authorities moved forward with legal action.

While electro-homeopathy is classified as alternative medicine, the regulatory environment around it remains complex. The Supreme Court's ruling in 2015 and a more recent judgment by the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench clarified that there is no outright ban on the practice of electro-homeopathy as a form of alternative therapy. However, practitioners are prohibited from using the prefix ‘Doctor’ and must refrain from misleading the public with unqualified medical services.

Pune police are currently conducting further inquiries, and a team has been deployed to locate the practitioner. As cases like these continue to emerge, public awareness and regulatory enforcement are becoming essential in protecting patient safety and ensuring that healthcare practices remain transparent and accountable.