The Telangana Medical Council noted that many dentists, who allegedly practise cosmetology, had previously claimed training from these institutions, directly addressing a common defense used by practitioners in the aesthetic medicine field.
Published Aug 01, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 01, 2025 | 7:00 AM
The latest development comes as an extension of the jurisdictional dispute that began in June.
Synopsis: TMC specifically targeted training programmes offered by what it termed “self-styled and unrecognised facilities”. The council named several institutions, stating that programmes offered by the Council of Cosmetology, Tricology, Regenerative and Aesthetic Sciences of India, Institute of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine (ILAMED), and Asian Institute of Advanced Dentistry have no official recognition.
The ongoing battle between Telangana’s medical and dental regulatory bodies intensified on 28 July, when the Telangana Medical Council (TMC) issued a comprehensive public notice, declaring that multiple degrees and certifications from private institutions have “absolutely no recognition whatsoever” for medical treatment purposes.
The latest development comes as an extension of the jurisdictional dispute that began in June, when TMC and the Telangana Dental Council (TDC) clashed over the scope of practice for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) professionals in aesthetic procedures and hair transplantation.
In its 28 July notice, TMC specifically targeted training programmes offered by what it termed “self-styled and unrecognised facilities”. The council named several institutions, stating that programmes offered by the Council of Cosmetology, Tricology, Regenerative and Aesthetic Sciences of India (COCTRASI), Institute of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine (ILAMED), and Asian Institute of Advanced Dentistry (AIAD) have no official recognition.
“Any purported modern scientific medicine Diploma/Fellowship training and certification programmes offered by self-styled and unrecognised facilities such as Council of Cosmetology, Tricology, Regenerative and Aesthetic Sciences of India (COCTRASI), Institute of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine (ILAMED), Asian Institute of Advanced Dentistry (AIAD), etc., (the aforesaid list of unrecognised facilities is only illustrative and not exhaustive) have no recognition whatsoever. Consequently, such unrecognised Diploma/Fellowship training and certification programmes are futile and are nothing but a colossal waste of his/her own time, effort, and money,” TMC said in its public notice.
The council noted that many dentists, who allegedly practise cosmetology, had previously claimed training from these institutions, directly addressing a common defense used by practitioners in the aesthetic medicine field.
The TMC extensively cited the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, particularly Sections 35 and 37, to support its position.
According to TMC’s interpretation of the law, medical qualifications are recognised only if they are listed and maintained by the Undergraduate Medical Education Board or Postgraduate Medical Education Board of the NMC.
The council outlined five key points from the legislation. First, modern scientific medicine qualifications are recognised only if listed by the NMC boards. Second, any qualification not included in the NMC-maintained lists is invalid. Third, recognition requires formal inclusion in NMC lists. Fourth, only qualifications from statutory bodies covered in specified schedules are recognised. Fifth, the Central Government may add or remove qualification categories through official notification.
TMC emphasised that qualifications granted by statutory or other bodies in India are recognised only if they fall under categories listed in the official Schedule, and the Central Government has the authority to modify these categories through proper notification procedures.
It further clarified five key points regarding qualification recognition. Modern scientific medicine qualifications are recognised only if listed and maintained by the NMC’s Undergraduate or Post-Graduate Medical Education Boards. Any qualification not included in these NMC-maintained lists is considered invalid, regardless of whether it is undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty, or fellowship level.
The council further explained that when either the NMC board decides to grant recognition to a medical qualification, it must be formally included in the NMC’s maintained list. Only medical qualifications from statutory or other bodies that fall under categories specifically listed in the official Schedule are recognised. The Central Government retains the authority to add or remove qualification categories through official notification, which determines whether qualifications from particular bodies are recognized or cease to be recognized under the Act.
TMC issued a stern warning about the consequences of pursuing or practicing with unrecognised certifications.
“It is further made clear that any person who obtains training and certification from such unrecognised facilities will be doing so at his/her own peril and expense. Further, if it is found that any person after obtaining such unrecognised certification is found to be advertising and displaying such certification and/or is found to be practicing modern medicine based on such certification in the State of Telangana, then such person will face strict legal action from the Telangana Medical Council…,” the council said.
This escalation significantly broadens the scope of the original dispute between the medical and dental councils. While the initial conflict focused specifically on OMFS professionals’ scope of practice in aesthetic procedures, TMC’s latest notice targets a much wider range of practitioners who may have obtained certifications from private training institutes.
The dispute originated when TMC, on 26 June, stated that dental surgeons, including OMFS specialists, lacked formal surgical knowledge to perform aesthetic procedures or hair transplantation surgeries. The Telangana Dental Council countered two days later, asserting that properly registered OMFS professionals are fully qualified for such procedures under the Dental Council of India standards.
The conflict escalated when TMC sought clarification from the National Medical Commission, which responded that the DCI’s public notice was issued without consulting the NMC and clarified that MDS-OMFS professionals are not eligible to practice aesthetic and hair transplantation procedures. Subsequently, TMC directed medical education authorities to withhold the posting of MDS-OMFS students in plastic surgery departments across state medical colleges.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
