Chembur has highest number of quacks in city: BMC records

Thanks to civic apathy, 43 quacks continue to run dispensaries in the city. While Chembur’s M-East ward tops the list with 14 fake doctors, P-North in Malad stands second with 13 quacks, reveal the health department records of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Prajakta Chavan reports.

Thanks to civic apathy, 43 quacks continue to run dispensaries in the city. While Chembur’s M-East ward tops the list with 14 fake doctors, P-North in Malad stands second with 13 quacks, reveal the health department records of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

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“Going by the statistics, it is clear that the corporation neglects the suburban wards with large number of slums. Though the medical certificates of 10 doctors from Chembur (East) suspected to be fake have been sent for verification, the matter is hardly followed up,” said Anil Galgali, an RTI activist, who accessed the data under the RTI Act.

A police complaint has been filed against all alleged quacks from the P-North ward. “The corporation doesn’t care about citizens’ health. Strict action should be initiated against quacks and civic authorities for dereliction of duty,” said Rajkumar Sharma, a social activist from Chembur (East).

A senior health department officer said, “Most of these dispensaries are not functioning now. We have sent certificates of suspected fake doctors to the respective councils for verification. If the councils confirm that they are fake, we file a police complaint at the local police station against the quack.”

The corporation sends the certificates for verification to five registered councils of allopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy and unani, wherein the course, degree and registration number is verified.