Rural people are the ones who suffer more at the hands of quacks, writes
R. Krishnamoorthy
In a swift operation earlier this week, a team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Rupesh Kumar Meena swooped on a quack for running a clinic and practising allopathy at Jeeva Nagar in the city.
The abandon with which the quack Zahir Hussein (30), who had failed in ninth standard at Syed Murtaza School in the city, had been taking the gullible public for a ride for a few years now with fake certificates of MBBS, MD and FRCS, reportedly obtained from an agency in West Bengal, came in as a shock even for the police who acted on information passed on to them by Collector T. Soundiah.
Zahir is said to have confessed that he had learnt the art of administering medicines and injections while working as a compounder for a while at a clinic in Melattur near Papanasam. Though Zahir was arrested and remanded in judicial custody, as things stand, the likely scenario is that he will be free from the clutches of law after the 15-day remand period, much to the consternation of the medical fraternity. The disturbing fact is that the police machinery is also helpless as Zahir was booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code that are not that strong. As such, there is nothing that would prevent Zahir from resuming his activities elsewhere.
Such crimes must be dealt with a multiple approach. Allopathic practice by quacks constitutes human rights violation. The accused could be booked under the Drugs (Control) Act (for prescribing medicines without the knowledge of pharmacology and pathology) for prosecution under stringent medico-legal provision, point out allopathy practitioners. In fact, allopathy practitioners are not against certified practitioners of Alternative Systems of Medicine, but deem practice of medicine by unqualified people a worse crime as it was a matter of life or death for unsuspecting public.
Arrest of the quack in the city was a rare instance. Rural people are the ones who suffer more at the hands of quacks since improper diagnosis inevitably leads to death, albeit slowly, observed Dean In-Charge of K.A.P. Viswanatham Medical College M.A. Aleem. Committees headed by village administrative officers need to be formed to curb the menace of quacks at grass-roots, Dr Aleem felt.
The Collector is also keen on creating a permanent mechanism for curbing the menace. The task will be carried out shortly through the Department of Health, Mr. Soundiah said.
Based on the findings of its Quackery Eradication Committees at the levels of State and districts, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has been making repeated representations to the State Government for fool-proof action to root out the menace. The Quackery Eradication Wing of IMA, Tiruchi, could identify four to five quacks operating in and around the city.
“The medical field being so diversified, even specialists are required to take expert opinion. The brunt of quackery is borne by people in rural areas. Quacks must be prevented from playing with drugs,” said M.S. Ashraf, former State President of IMA, calling for very strict action. “An exclusive police wing must be formed to root out the quackery menace,” Dr. Ashraf emphasised.
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 08, 2010
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