Fake docs vanish, residents helpless
litis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome after outbreaks in Gorakhpur and adjoining districts have muddied the waters further with CMOS unable to decide whether they were expected to take action against unqualified practitioners or permit them to run their clinics. In recent weeks, though, the administration has decided to get tough with quacks.
On January 10, the UP health department directed the CMOS to register cases against quacks.
“CMOS have been directed to identify the unqualified and unregistered medical practitioners in the respective districts and register cases against them,” said Dr Padmakar Singh, director general, medical health, Uttar Pradesh. Though the health department does not maintain a database of quacks, the CMOS of all 75 districts maintain records at the local level, he added.
Still, it’s an uphill battle. Dr Hukum Singh, a health directorate officer who is monitoring the action against the quacks, says 20 of the state’s 75 districts sent action-taken reports to the health directorate. “The CMOS were told to expedite action against the quacks,” he said. NEWDELHI: Following the arrest of an unlicensed self-styled doctor accused of infecting at least 58 people with HIV in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao, other such fake medical practitioners in the surrounding areas have shut shop fearing police raids.
The quacks, who offered treatment for as little as ₹5 and ₹10 along with medicines, were the lifeline for Premgunj residents who rarely go to the community health centre in Bangermau.
There are only six doctors against t he 12 sanctioned strength for the centre, and none are specialitists. “These doctors were our only hope. We cannot afford treatment in Kanpur or Lucknow. Where do we go now?” said Ramsakhi Devi, 45, a resident of Premgunj, the village from where 50 of the 58 confirmed HIV cases were reported.
“I do not understand why these doctors should be arrested; at least their medicines work and are affordable. Doctors at the CHC write medicines that are not available at their pharmacy and cost a fortune outside,” she said.
Adding to their misery is the stigma attached to HIV. “All my friends from other villages have abandoned me, saying I am from the HIV village. They don’t even want to talk or sit together for a cup of tea,” said Ajay Kumar, a BED student from a private college in Premgunj.
People are already feeling socially ostracised. “Marriage proposals for my friends in Kirmidiyapur village were turned down after the news spread,” said 35-year-old Seema Gautam. “My children are young, but I will eventually have to look for partners for them. This stigma will remain for life,” she added.