Shell out 5,000, become a doctor!

Expressbuzz, Nov 6, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: No need to study medicine and for that matter crack an entrance to become a doctor! At least in this district. Just deposit Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 along with xerox copy of matric or Plus Two certificate and three colour passport size photographs and you get a passport to practise privately as a doctor in rural pockets. Flaunting such fake certificates, quacks are now minting money in interior Kalahandi.

There are three categories of quacks in operation. One category of quacks are having certificates from West Bengal whereas the second category possesses certificates from Bhubaneswar. The third category of quacks don’t have any such licence, simply they count on their experience. The quacks are having a field day in the district due to dearth of doctors and absence of minimum health care facilities.

Out of 176 sanctioned posts of doctors in the district, 63 posts are lying vacant. Out of the existing 113 doctors, six are not turning up since long while 16 are on unauthorised leave. Apart from this, though some doctors have been transferred but their substitutes are yet to be appointed. Thus to get medical service, people have only one choice - see a quack.

Incidentally the licence issued from Bhubaneswar though reveals that the head office is in Bhubaneswar, but the actual office is near Hind cinema in Cuttack. This was revealed by one such licence-holder requesting anonymity. He, however, said he fell into a trap laid by middleman. After shelling out Rs 10,000, he was given a licence for private practice and a certificate.

Ranjan Maharana, secretary of NGO Jana Swasthya Seva Sanstha, said a survey conducted by his organisation in Madanpur Rampur, Lanjigarh, Narla, Junagarh and Kalampur blocks revealed that at least 180 quacks are operating in the five blocks. He further expressed apprehension that the number of quacks in the entire district may exceed 500.

On many occasions the innocent people are subjected to exploitation by these quacks paying through their nose and also endangering their life. In many cases defective treatment is leading to complicacies.

Devi Prasad Mishra, former chairman of Bhawanipatna municipality and now heading the Rogi Kalyan Samiti in Bhawanipatna Government Hospital, said the quacks are even treating complicated cases leading to further complicacies. Many such complicated cases are very often reaching the district headquarters hospital, he said.

CDMO Dr Susil Rath admitted that the activities of quacks are causing health and social problems in the district. All the medical officers of primary health centres have been directed to verify and report to police about the quacks working in their area, he said.

Strangely not a single quack has yet been booked in the district.