Karnataka state is becoming a major hub for fake medical practitioners with their number crossing 1.5 lakh mark as against 60,000 qualified medical practitioners registered with Indian Medical Association's Karnataka branch. In Bangalore alone there are 25,000 quacks practising in different parts of the city.
The growing menace of quacks in the state is despite formation of an anti quackery cell in 1984.The cell has not taken any action against the growing number of fake doctors. The representation made by the Karnataka Medical Association to the State government for setting up a 'Raid Party' to book quacks, has also not taken off.
The quacks go scot-free despite stringent laws like the Karnataka Quackery Prohibition Bill, 2001, Indian Medical Council Act 1956: section: 15, 20, 21 and 27 where fake doctors can be imprisoned for one year for violations against medical ethics.
The Karnataka Medical Association has been receiving around 50 complaints a month relating to medical negligence. Out of these 90 to 95 percent of the cases are involving quacks administering treatment.
The main reason for the fake medical practice to thrive is the passive attitude of the State government against quacks informed section of senior medical practitioners in Bangalore.
Several memorandums have been submitted to the government of Karnataka and no action has been taken. The medical fraternity even called for a strike but withdrew it following a government assurance. There is nothing more to be done from our end, Dr. P Janardhan Rao, co-chairman anti quackery, drug abuse and legal cell, Indian Medical Association, Karnataka branch told pharmabiz.com
The estimated total number of quacks in India today is 13 lakh and there are many evidences pointing to qualified doctors from government hospitals to have trained many medical college drop-outs to practise as quacks. Currently, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar tops the list in quackery. Instances have been given where when quacks are nabbed and clinics raided, a qualified allopathy doctor is around to pull him out of trouble. The state government and the drugs control department who are authorised to taken action against the lawbreakers and have turned a cold shoulder to curb the menace, expressed a section of junior doctors of government hospitals.
Maharashtra is the only state in the country to pass the Anti Quackery Bill. In Karnataka and other states many public interest litigations (PILs) are filed in the High Courts by members of IMA to seek justice and when the Supreme Court takes up the case there are only directions issued to take action against medical educational institutions that provide the fake degrees while disposing off writ petitions or calling government health officials to take action against the law breakers.
The only concrete instance of an action taken against quacks in the country is when a PIL filed against a quack in Uttar Pradesh and the issue was brought before the Supreme Court who took serious note of the fake doctors' practise and issued orders to the district magistrate and district medical officers to immediately prepare a list of quacks in the state. A contempt of court proceeding was initiated and 17,300 quacks had FIRs (First Information Report) against them.
Quoting an instance of inaction by the Karnataka government, Dr. Janardhan informed a PIL filed in October 2000 in the Karnataka High Court, came in for final hearing in March 2002 where Chief Justice of Karnataka, N K Jain in his final judgment stated that the Karnataka government was competent enough to handle the quackery menace and he hoped that the curbs would be enforced. “There were no measures taken to stop the quacks,” he added
Quacks display their degrees and registration numbers leaving no doubts among the general public, said Dr. Janardhan. “Usually complaints against quacks are brought to the notice of IMA by qualified doctors who recognise the errors in prescription formats,” he added. A hand bill carrying the name of one Dr. S Kumar with registration number 15454, offering treatment in serious ailments at his clinic 'RE-LIFE+' is displayed in prime locations in Bangalore and is also thronged by several patients, he observed.
According to Dr. Janardhan, the only way to curb quacks is to create a massive awareness drive among the people in the State.
Quackery is rampant. IMA has no powers to raid the premises of quacks and prevent them from continuing practice. It is unfortunate that health and drugs inspector in the State who are vested with the powers to raid premises are hand-in-glove with fake doctors, informed reliable sources on condition of anonymity.