Healthcare At Stake As Quacks Rule The Roost In Odisha

Sundergarh: Even as the Odisha government has launched several schemes to improve medical facilities, it seems to have yielded no results as fake doctors or quacks continue to rule the roost in rural areas in the State.

According to reports, several clinics have been opened by 'fake' doctors who are allegedly fleecing patients in the name of treatment under Kinjirkela police limits in Sundergarh district. The quacks mainly hailing from West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are practicing without any proper medical degrees to treat patients.

One among the quacks reportedly possesses a Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS) degree. However, he is practicing allopathic treatment at Raidihi village in the district. Similarly, Prakash Kumar Rathore, who hails from Chhattisgarh, is also providing allopathic treatment to patients despite having BAMS degree.

Rathore claimed that he has completed the BAMS degree from Raipur. “I am holding a BAMS degree and can practice both allopathic and ayurvedic,” he claimed.

The doctor was found administering anaesthesia and steroid injection to a patient to treat joint pain. “The doctor administered five injections to me and demanded Rs 1,500. Later, he agreed on Rs 1,400,” said Mali Lakra, a patient.

Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Saroj Kumar Mishra said that a probe will be conducted against the 'fake' doctor.

“Anaesthesia and steroid injection can be administered to a patient to treat joint pain. However, it should be done by a specialist,” he said.

Following reports in media, police convened Rathore and grilled him in the custody today. Later, police released him after filing a station diary.

It is worth mentioning that instances of fake doctors playing with the lives of patients are not new in Sundergarh. Earlier, a fake doctor had grabbed a government job and served for three years before being arrested.

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