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| Drive against quacks must go on | | |
After a gap of around three years the government has once again cracked whip on the quacks or intelligent medicos, in their own right, running clinical diagnostic centers in violation of rules. Raids were conducted at different places across Kashmir Valley on Monday in which several ultrasonographic centers were sealed. A spokesman for government has said that the drive against quacks will continue. Just a week back we had expressed concern over rising quackery and a number of health institutions running in violation of set norms. We had also referred to the government action against illegal health centers some three years back and wondered that why no such drive was conducted after that. While Monday’s raids and action against illegal clinical diagnostic centers is a welcome step, it is important for the government to widen scope of this initiate, launch a statewide drive, check not only the clinics but also the credentials of medicos engaged in this business. There are serious life dangers posed by the quacks. The common man blissfully unaware of the chicanery of these imposters, often fall prey to their sales gimmicks, glib talks and fictitious qualifications inscribed in bold lettering on the ornate name boards adorning their so called clinics and health centers. Their hawkeyed agents are seen roaming round the local bus stands, railway stations and such public places ferreting out prospective patients and guiding them to the quacks on commission basis. Many of the laymen approach quacks for their low charges, but normally end up paying more and even losing life because of the wrong and inappropriate treatment that they are made to undergo.Everyone wants alternatives- genuine alternatives to modern medicine. Quacks exploit this uncanny attitude under the enticing disguise of plea for "freedom of choice" for consumers. Complementary and alternative Medicine policy covers a broad range of healing philosophies (schools of thought), approaches, and therapies like ayurveda, homeopathy, unani, and siddha that mainstream conventional medicine does not commonly use. You can find quacks practicing even in these accepted forms of alternative systems of indigenous origin. Every day we come across blistering campaigns with fanfare over the mass media for a number of disease-specific forms of treatments and services with tall claims of efficacy. Luscious poster and cacophonic loudspeaker campaigns advocating spurious drugs and products are routine in and around villages, towns and even in metropolis. Per se we are not totally opposed to any new products, services and/or any new therapy. But the word 'quack' is fitting for those who can't present sufficient scientific evidence to back up the veracity of their bragging claims and prattles about effectivity of their services and products. It is difficult to evaluate such claims on health products and services by a common man. We are vulnerable to mistaken perception and deception especially when we are on the threshold of persistent illness and when we are at our wits' end to find prompt cure and proper medication to our chronic ailments. Hoping for a cure, the unwitting parents often turn to these pseudo-medical practitioners as a last resort. These people are just concerned about money and not life of their subjects. Once the government has launched a crackdown it should not be left halfway and the initiative must go on to shut even the last shop which is not in order. |
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