Plans on to put nation’s health in hands of quacks
3 Oct 2014 6:08 AM IST
The ministry has called a meeting of the health secretaries of states to discuss the issue and accordingly modify laws. At a media interaction recently, health minister Harsh Vardhan too had indicated that such a move was under consideration. ‘In the present condition when doctors refuse to accept rural postings, the health care system in rural areas is very much dependent on quacks. So we have to chalk out a strategy to use the services of quacks in those remote areas. Though, the final decision on this issue will be taken only after meeting with state secretaries on 9 October,’ Vardhan had said at a recent media interaction.
Ministry sources said the government is contemplating to modify the existing laws which states that to be a medical practitioner one has to possess a recognised medical degree from any of the three streams of medicine – allopathy, homeopathy or AYUSH that is Ayurvedic, Unani or Siddha. ‘We have to find out some other ways so that quacks can be rehabilitated as it’s not possible to completely put a ban on them,’ the minister is reported to have said.
The medical fraternity is already up in arms against the move. According to Indian Medical Association (IMA) general secretary Narendra Saini, ‘We will oppose any such move. A doctor starts practicing medicine only after completing 5-year integrated MBBS course, which is not the case with quacks. If the health ministry is really worried about rural health care, they should make provisions of rural allowances to doctors on rural posting.’
On the issue of rehabilitation of quacks, Dr Saini, who is also Indian Medical Association’s Anti-Quackery wing general secretary, said, ‘We would welcome it if the government takes initiative to rehabilitate quacks by turning them into paramedics through proper training. This would help in utilising the huge workforce of quacks in creating mass awareness about several life threatening diseases in rural areas.’
Delhi Medical Association (DMA) president Anil Goyal opined that quacks should be trained to work as healthcare workers. They, however, should not be allowed to prescribe any medicine.
On the shortage of doctors, Goyal said, ‘There is no shortage of medical practitioners in the country as such. The ministry must make use of the services of about 30,000 fresh medical graduates every year by deputing them in rural areas for at least six months. Doctors are ready to work in remote areas, provided there is some basic facilities available.’
There is a scarcity of about 6 lakh doctors as the present strength of medical practitioners is just 8.5 lakh. According to WHO recommendations, there should be one doctor for every 1,000 people, but in actual there is only one doctor for 2,000 people. According to Indian Medical Association data, it is estimated that about 10 lakh quacks are practicing allopathic medicine.
Ministry sources said the government is contemplating to modify the existing laws which states that to be a medical practitioner one has to possess a recognised medical degree from any of the three streams of medicine – allopathy, homeopathy or AYUSH that is Ayurvedic, Unani or Siddha. ‘We have to find out some other ways so that quacks can be rehabilitated as it’s not possible to completely put a ban on them,’ the minister is reported to have said.
The medical fraternity is already up in arms against the move. According to Indian Medical Association (IMA) general secretary Narendra Saini, ‘We will oppose any such move. A doctor starts practicing medicine only after completing 5-year integrated MBBS course, which is not the case with quacks. If the health ministry is really worried about rural health care, they should make provisions of rural allowances to doctors on rural posting.’
On the issue of rehabilitation of quacks, Dr Saini, who is also Indian Medical Association’s Anti-Quackery wing general secretary, said, ‘We would welcome it if the government takes initiative to rehabilitate quacks by turning them into paramedics through proper training. This would help in utilising the huge workforce of quacks in creating mass awareness about several life threatening diseases in rural areas.’
Delhi Medical Association (DMA) president Anil Goyal opined that quacks should be trained to work as healthcare workers. They, however, should not be allowed to prescribe any medicine.
On the shortage of doctors, Goyal said, ‘There is no shortage of medical practitioners in the country as such. The ministry must make use of the services of about 30,000 fresh medical graduates every year by deputing them in rural areas for at least six months. Doctors are ready to work in remote areas, provided there is some basic facilities available.’
There is a scarcity of about 6 lakh doctors as the present strength of medical practitioners is just 8.5 lakh. According to WHO recommendations, there should be one doctor for every 1,000 people, but in actual there is only one doctor for 2,000 people. According to Indian Medical Association data, it is estimated that about 10 lakh quacks are practicing allopathic medicine.
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