look news india
In Gujarat, the Health Department has launched the biggest and most aggressive campaign so far against unauthorized and quack doctors who are playing with the health and lives of the general public. During this intensive mega checking campaign that lasted for the last 15 days across the state, joint teams of the health department and police have caught 38 suspected fake doctors red-handed. After the investigation confirmed that they were running illegal clinics, giving allopathic medicines without a medical degree and putting the lives of patients at risk, an FIR has been registered against 35 of these quacks under strict sections of the Indian Justice Code and the relevant Medical Act.
Gujarat Health Minister Prafulla Pansheriya, while sharing details of this statewide action, said that practicing medicine without a valid medical degree, registration or experience is a serious crime. Prescribing wrong medicines and administering injections by unqualified persons can cause permanent damage to patients’ organs and sometimes even lead to loss of life.
The Health Minister clarified that the state government is committed to providing safe health services to the citizens living in remote villages and towns. He appealed to the citizens to get their diseases treated in government-run hospitals, community health centers (CHCs) and primary health centers (PHCs) instead of getting their diseases treated by quacks, where fully qualified doctors, free treatment, medicines and modern laboratory testing facilities are available.
| Campaign Details | Official statistics and details |
| campaign duration | 15 day statewide special investigation campaign |
| Suspected fake doctor caught | A total of 38 quacks |
| Total FIRs filed | FIR named against 35 accused |
| agencies involved | Gujarat Health Department, Drug Control Administration and local police |
| seized material | Huge quantity of allopathic medicines, injections, steroids and fake seals |
When Health Department teams raided the identified suspicious locations, many shocking revelations were made. Many accused were ordinary 10th or 12th pass and were running clinics by calling themselves MBBS or BAMS. Fake medical boards, forged letterheads and doctor’s seals were recovered from them. Not only this, in the name of treatment of serious diseases, banned antibiotics, painkillers and steroids were being given indiscriminately to the patients. During the raid, unlabelled medicines and expired injections were also seized from several clinics, which have been sealed and sent for forensic examination.
According to Health Department officials, this campaign will not be limited to only 15 days, but has been made a part of the regular surveillance system. Flying squads will conduct frequent surprise inspections, especially in industrial areas, slums and rural areas with migrant labourers. Along with this, strict instructions have also been given to the drug sellers (chemists) not to sell medicines and syringes in bulk to any unauthorized person without a registered doctor’s prescription, otherwise their medical store license will also be canceled immediately.