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Health risk @ 8 quacks a day
THE HEALTH Department official survey reported just 224 quacks in the city back in 2004. But, now their number has increased to at least 6000. Well, that means Lucknow approximately gets eight quacks every day. By, the time the Health Department wakes up to curb quack population, the city would have more quackery to deal with. The Health Department had lodged FIRs against 66 out of 224 in 2004. But, after sometime health sleuths? drive lost the sting. The statewide survey by the health department identified 27,252 quacks working in UP but action was mooted only against 1993.
THE HEALTH Department official survey reported just 224 quacks in the city back in 2004. But, now their number has increased to at least 6000. Well, that means Lucknow approximately gets eight quacks every day. By, the time the Health Department wakes up to curb quack population, the city would have more quackery to deal with.
The Health Department had lodged FIRs against 66 out of 224 in 2004. But, after sometime health sleuths’ drive lost the sting.
The statewide survey by the health department identified 27,252 quacks working in Uttar Pradesh but action was mooted only against 1993.
Chief medical officer DR KK Singh says the matter of quacks would be taken up soon as the department is presently busy with pulse polio drive and other assignments from the Centre and State. “Attempts have been made in the past to catch the quacks and campaigns were launched by the department. We are presently looking after the pulse polio drive. Once we are done with it, we will launch a campaign once again,” Dr Singh said.
He could not give reasons for huge gaps weakening the campaign after quacks were registered in 2004, as he himself joined the office a month.
Doctors are not ready to buy health officials’ reasons. “The figure 224 is meaningless for Lucknow must have at least 6000 quacks spread and working in rural and urban areas,” says former president of the Provincial Medical Service Association (PMSA) Dr RB Agrawal.
He said the CMO, SSP and DM were directed by the court to give information about quacks every week but nothing seems to be in this direction, as identification and action against quacks is not in the priority list of the department.
“In the Panchayatraj Act also the Gram Pradhans have been given power for health related issues. Identification of quacks can be done easily through pradhans as quacks mostly work in rural areas,’ Dr Agrawal said.
