Mahiti Hakku Jagruti Vedike, a dedicated group of Right to Information activists, has submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur to conduct a fair investigation into the fake doctors' scam.
In a communiqué to the head of the State, MHJV has called to cancel the nomination of Dr Jayaprakash Narayan to the Karnataka Ayurveda and Unani Practitioners' Board so that a fair investigation into fake doctors scam is conducted without his interference by virtue of his position on the Board. Dr Narayan is currently, the vice president, Apex Body, Central Council of Indian Medicine.
The investigation should thoroughly examine the list of the doctors who have obtained registration against practical experience and issued the 'Vaidya Vidwan' certificates.
Showing contempt towards the practice of fake certificates issuance, MHJV has also suggested handing over the investigation of fake certificate scam to Central Bureau of Investigation so that the tricksters in the neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh where the scam emanated are also examined.
There is a need to notify a Special Health Squad comprising experts from the allopathic and ayurveda disciplines along with social workers and activists. The Squad should closely examine the certificates held by the ayurveda qualified doctors, examine their practical experience and registrations. In addition, doctors without any valid registrations and practicing allopathic system should be investigated, informed JSD Pani, president, Mahiti Hakku Jagruti Vedike.
Karnataka Ayurveda and Unani practitioners, 'Board an autonomous body constituted under the Central Council of Indian Medicine Act 1970 has a dubious distinction of according registration against the fake Vaidya Vidwan' certificates which are issued by a private institution 'Andhra Ayurveda Parishad'. A case has been registered with the Police and Karnataka Lokayukta and the investigation is in progress, informed Pani.
Registration of 64 doctors with fake certificates issued between 1998 and 2007 were first exposed by MHJV in September 2007 via the RTI Act. The fake certificate registration started in 1989.
There is a provision to accord registration based on practical experience. Even after banning such registrations in December 1981, these registrations were continued by the Board thus producing many more fake doctors, he said. The Board had put an end to such registrations against practical experience in 1988.
Out of the 117 Vaidya Vidwan fake certificate holders exposed, four have surrendered their registration to the Board. The 87 Vaidya Vidwan fake certificate doctors moved the High Court of Karnataka challenging the cancellation of registration which will be proved only after the investigation, added Pani.