Pratapgarh: In a coordinated effort involving the district administration, medical professionals, and the police department, stringent action was taken against a fraudulent medical practitioner who had been exploiting villagers in Jaloda Jagir in Chhoti Sadri block of Pratapgarh district for a decade.
District Collector, Dr. Anjali Rajoria, and Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Dr. V.D. Meena, directed joint efforts from the police administration and medical teams to address the issue. The crackdown operation has been initiated against quackery following the tragic deaths of three children recently in Devgarh area of the district.
The authorities got a tip off on a fraudulent practitioner, conducting a medical practice without a valid degree under the facade of a medical store in Chhoti Sadri town. He had been extracting substantial fees from villagers for purported treatments and medications. In response to the instructions from District Collector Dr. Anjali Rajoria, continuous efforts were made to identify and take action against such quacks.
On Saturday, a collaborative operation involving the police, medical, and administration teams resulted in the apprehension of the quack doctor. During the raid on his clinic in Jaloda Jagir, the team, including Tehsildar Chhoti Sadri, Deputy CMHO Dr. Jagdeep Kharadi, BCMO Dr. Vijay Garg, Medical Officer Dr. Kailash Charan, and the Jaloda Jagir police station, discovered numerous banned medicines. The Drug Inspector (DI) confiscated these medicines and sent them to the sample lab for further analysis.
Dr. V.D. Meena, the Chief Medical Officer, explained that the action against quacks and unlicensed practitioners was part of a concerted effort to ensure public safety. The teams, consisting of police, medical professionals, and administration officials, conducted raids in various locations to identify and apprehend such individuals.
During the raid, it was observed that the so-called doctor had set up beds for admitting patients without the necessary licenses. Additionally, he operated a medical store without proper documentation. The individual identified himself as Dr. Nimai Biswas, but when asked to provide the necessary documents related to his practice, he failed to do so. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against him, and legal action was initiated.
Collector Anjali Rajoria said the initiative gained momentum after three innocent children lost their lives due to the treatment provided by a fake doctor in the Devgarh area of Pratapgarh. She emphasized the importance of continuous action against quacks, especially those practicing without proper qualifications.
In response to such incidents, ongoing instructions were issued to take strict and continuous action against such fraudulent practitioners. The joint efforts of the police, medical professionals, and administration teams are actively addressing the issue by conducting targeted raids and ensuring legal consequences for those involved in quackery. CMO Dr. V.D. Meena stated that continuous actions are being taken in the region against quacks and unqualified Bengali doctors practicing without degrees and licenses. Teams are conducting raids at various locations, resulting in the closure of several fraudulent clinics, with some practitioners evading arrest.
Unlicensed practitioners, commonly known as “jholachhap doctors” or “quacks,” are prevalent in urban slums and rural areas across India. Despite lacking formal medical degrees, many of them acquire practical knowledge by working as assistants under qualified physicians in urban settings. Given the challenges posed by the high costs of private healthcare facilities and the overcrowding of government hospitals, these ‘jholachhap’ doctors play a significant role in India’s healthcare ecosystem, offering an accessible alternative for many individuals.
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