Self-proclaimed doctors: Quacks flourish in Pindi, while govt still plans action
DHO says they are monitoring situation; no concrete plans afoot.
DHO says they are monitoring situation; no concrete plans afoot. PHOTO :FILE
RAWALPINDI:
The mushrooming growth of quacks in the garrison city, especially in semi-rural areas, is resulting in the spread of diseases like hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and HIV, but there is evidence of little effort on the part of the district government to curb the practice.
Pakistan Medical Association Dr Kazim, speaking to reporters a few weeks back, said that Punjab had 53,000 qualified doctors and around 200,000 quacks.
The number is increasing due to the lack of qualified doctors and the cost of certified healthcare facilities. The quacks’ business is flourishing in the city as there is little check on their activities.
Most of their patients are from poor families and cannot afford a regular doctor’s fee. These quacks charge nominal amounts ranging from Rs100 to 150 and also provide cheap medicine.
“The non-availability of medical health insurance and trained doctors force us to go to these quacks,” said Muhammad Aslam, a class IV employee in Pakistan Railways.
“I only prescribe medicines for flu or temperature and conduct minor surgery,” said Saghir Ahmad. Ahmad clinic’s stocks medicines like calcium and iron supplements, eye drops and some painkillers. A broken carton, filled with dirty bandages and used syringes and bags placed under the bed, is a common sight in such clinics. Around 15 to 20 persons were waiting patiently for their turn at the clinic of another unregistered ‘doctor’ located on Adiala Road. He conducts surgeries in front of everyone.
The same scene was witnessed during a visit to another clinic, Rizwan Chemist and Druggist in Chungi No 22. The clinic gives a shabby and unhygienic look, a broken bed supported with bricks is placed inside a small room where surgeries are conducted and a waste bin filled with plastic bottles and chemical waste is also present there.
Most of the patients were aware of the doctor’s experience and knowledge but were helpless to consult them due to poverty. “I hardly earn Rs400, an amount that is too meagre to meet both ends meet. How can I pay heavy fees that qualified doctors demand?” said Sajid, a resident of Chungi No 22, waiting for his turn at Rizwan clinic. Interestingly, these quacks also offer vaccines for Hepatitis B, C and other diseases.
Three years back, the government passed the Healthcare Commission Act 2010, under which all DCOs and EDOs health were asked to end quackery in their respective districts. But it was only in May 2013 that the commission started to register hospitals and clinics. The figure has reached around 200.
In 2009, the Supreme Court ordered health secretaries to take action against quackery, but nothing much has been done on the ground.
Rawalpindi District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zafar Gondal said, “Action is being taken against quacks and we have sealed dozens of illegal clinics.” District health officers and drug inspectors are monitoring the situation, he added. “A sensitisation workshop will be arranged where action will also be planned to curb this practice.”
“Earlier, DHOs and deputy DHOs did not have the authority to deal with quacks, but now that the government has empowered us, strict action is in the offing.” Gondal advised people to avoid going to quacks as a small mistake could take their lives or disable them.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2013.
The mushrooming growth of quacks in the garrison city, especially in semi-rural areas, is resulting in the spread of diseases like hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and HIV, but there is evidence of little effort on the part of the district government to curb the practice.
Pakistan Medical Association Dr Kazim, speaking to reporters a few weeks back, said that Punjab had 53,000 qualified doctors and around 200,000 quacks.
The number is increasing due to the lack of qualified doctors and the cost of certified healthcare facilities. The quacks’ business is flourishing in the city as there is little check on their activities.
Most of their patients are from poor families and cannot afford a regular doctor’s fee. These quacks charge nominal amounts ranging from Rs100 to 150 and also provide cheap medicine.
“The non-availability of medical health insurance and trained doctors force us to go to these quacks,” said Muhammad Aslam, a class IV employee in Pakistan Railways.
“I only prescribe medicines for flu or temperature and conduct minor surgery,” said Saghir Ahmad. Ahmad clinic’s stocks medicines like calcium and iron supplements, eye drops and some painkillers. A broken carton, filled with dirty bandages and used syringes and bags placed under the bed, is a common sight in such clinics. Around 15 to 20 persons were waiting patiently for their turn at the clinic of another unregistered ‘doctor’ located on Adiala Road. He conducts surgeries in front of everyone.
The same scene was witnessed during a visit to another clinic, Rizwan Chemist and Druggist in Chungi No 22. The clinic gives a shabby and unhygienic look, a broken bed supported with bricks is placed inside a small room where surgeries are conducted and a waste bin filled with plastic bottles and chemical waste is also present there.
Most of the patients were aware of the doctor’s experience and knowledge but were helpless to consult them due to poverty. “I hardly earn Rs400, an amount that is too meagre to meet both ends meet. How can I pay heavy fees that qualified doctors demand?” said Sajid, a resident of Chungi No 22, waiting for his turn at Rizwan clinic. Interestingly, these quacks also offer vaccines for Hepatitis B, C and other diseases.
Three years back, the government passed the Healthcare Commission Act 2010, under which all DCOs and EDOs health were asked to end quackery in their respective districts. But it was only in May 2013 that the commission started to register hospitals and clinics. The figure has reached around 200.
In 2009, the Supreme Court ordered health secretaries to take action against quackery, but nothing much has been done on the ground.
Rawalpindi District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zafar Gondal said, “Action is being taken against quacks and we have sealed dozens of illegal clinics.” District health officers and drug inspectors are monitoring the situation, he added. “A sensitisation workshop will be arranged where action will also be planned to curb this practice.”
“Earlier, DHOs and deputy DHOs did not have the authority to deal with quacks, but now that the government has empowered us, strict action is in the offing.” Gondal advised people to avoid going to quacks as a small mistake could take their lives or disable them.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2013.