MADURAI: At a time when the Central and State governments are strongly recommending ancient Indian system of medicine especially Siddha during the current Corona pandemic, the manner in which quacks are easily operating and exploiting innocent people is a rude shock.
In Tamil Nadu alone, there are more than 10,000 fake doctors making their business posing as specialists in AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy). There are also many fakes cheating people with acupuncture, electro-homeopathy etc.
The latest arrest of a fake doctor ThiruThanikachalam by Chennai police (a Siddha quack for advertising treatment – cure for COVID) is an example to agree with the alert coming from various doctors’ associations that there are certainly not less than 10,000 quacks in Tamil Nadu alone who are playing with people’s lives and pockets.
“The associations of both government and private doctors of all Indian systems medicine met to discuss this fake doctor pandemic. From the numbers that are registered with council and the number of people out there, we could make out that the number of quacks is not less than 10,000 in our State alone,” Dr.B.Thamizhkkani, State Secretary, Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Officers’ Association, has said on 8th May 2020.
These quacks are spread over all districts and indulge in money making using the name of AYUSH. Seeing the difference in numbers, the associations have taken up the matter with the government and asked the Anti Quackery Cells in districts to swing into action.
The not qualified / fake doctors are operating in such a manner that no one suspects them. They display membership in councils that are not approved or recognized by the government. “It is here people are falling into their trap due to their publicity gimmicks. We must take action against fake councils also,” he says.
Representations were given to government authorities and councils for their swift action based on the rough data given to them but till now only a few were caught red-handed.
ANTI QUACKERY CELLS:
Dr.Thamizhkkani has pointed out that the District Siddha Medical Officer in each district must be made a member of the District Anti Quackery Cell that puts surveillance on fake doctors. The District Collector heads the quackery cell.
“We want government siddha doctors to be members in that cell because they know what is what. But in many places, only allopathy doctors are there in those anti quackery cells. This should be corrected ,” he explains and urges the Joint Director of Health Services of each district to give representation to Indian medicine too.
Here, he cites the example of fake doctor ThiruThanikachalam who was arrested at Koyambedu in Chennai two days ago. He did not register with Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council and he has no valid degree. “That is why we want a strict vigil on all those fake persons. Otherwise it will bring a black mark for our great ancient Indian medicine and AYUSH,” association general secretary Dr.Thamizhkkani has appealed to the authorities.
Many fake doctors are escaping taking advantage of legal loopholes and some are taking shield under the name of their family tradition. The shocking thing is they are running clinics and doing a roaring business.
A few other doctors of Indian medicine also concurred that AYUSH has no strict checking right now whereas more focus is there on allopathy doctors only The appeal coming during the current Corona crisis is that there should be total lockdown for the quacks who are using the name of Indian medicine and minting money.
ASSOCIATION THANKS GOVT FOR ACTION:
