'Fake' child specialist found to be using registration number of deceased doctor

Kolkata: P K Barik who has been practicing as a child specialist at Subhasgram in South 24 Parganas was found

to be using the registration number of another doctor who passed away around four months ago.

Barik had earned a good reputation of being a child specialist and villagers from Subhasgram used to visit him. Such incidents are still coming up months after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) started cracking down on fake doctors in the state. Many have been already been arrested by the CID for practicing as MBBS and BDS without a valid license.

It was learnt that the accused, Barik had been using a registration number 44779 which actually belonged to Amitava Bhattachary who died on May 24. The accused doctor, however, claimed that he did his MBBS from Gautam Buddha Medical College in Uttar Pradesh. However, the existence of any such medical college is in question. In his prescription, the accused claimed that he obtained his MBBS degree from Kolkata.

He said that he had mistakenly mentioned in his prescription that he got the degree from Kolkata. He also said that he did a short-time course of MBBS.

The existence of any short-time MBBS course is in question. Police have started a probe in this regard. Barik has, however, refused to accept that he was using the registration number of another doctor who passed away four months ago. He also refused to admit that he was a fake doctor and was practicing without a valid registration number. He said that he could produce original certificates to prove that he was not a fake doctor.

The guardians who used to get their children treated by the doctors who do not have a valid license are shocked to know the incident.

The local residents also raised questions on how a fake doctor was allowed to practice for such a long time.