Though Mohalla Clinics have curbed it to some extent, quacks still a menace in city

There is still a sizable number of quacks in the city who are posing a challenge to Delhi’s healthcare system. According to Dr A K Gupta, President, Delhi Medical Council (DMC), based on the estimates by the DMC there are about 8,000 quacks still present in the city. 

On being asked that whether the opening of Mohalla Clinics and polyclinics created a difference towards patients not availing the services of quacks, Dr Gupta replied: “There has been a difference, however, most of the clinics are still operational on experimental basis and therefore it will take  time to make citizens aware of their significance and make it popular among citizens.” 

Dr Gupta highlighted that many poor patients still rely on the services of superspecialty state-run hospitals for the OPD requirements but due to lack of infrastructure, shortages and high demand  it results in poor relationship between the doctors and the patient. Whereas, a quack is more accessible for many poor patients.  

Dr Girish Tyagi, registrar at Delhi Medical Council said: “There is still a lack of coordination among the agencies in dealing with quacks.”

In explaining the process to rein in quacks, Dr Tyagi explained that on receiving of complaints, the DMC coordinates with the directorate of health services to survey the full details of the accused person, prepare a report and forward it to concerned agencies for future course of action to be implemented.

A senior official from the Directorate of Health services mentioned that this process is  a long drawn, cumbersome and a slow process. The Delhi Medical council in 2015 closed 168 quack-run clinics operating in the city.

Dr Tyagi said: “The perception of the patients needs to be changed at the ground level. Many patient feels that they are not been catered to very well by the doctors and thereby frequent to the quacks irrespective of knowing the credentials and the qualification of the person.” 

Dr Tyagi further added that in many cases the patients often take the services from state-run healthcare system after the harm inflicted due to the treatment by quacks.