Gujarat IMA calls for strict action against Quacks

Ahmedabad: In response to the growing threat posed by quacks practising medicine and endangering public health, the Gujarat State Branch of the Indian Medical Association (GSB-IMA) has vowed to take action. The association has urged the government to implement stringent measures against these illegal medical practitioners in the state.

In a letter addressed to Harshadkumar Ratilal Patel, Commissioner of Health, Medical Services, and Medical Education of Gujarat, the association emphasized that the presence of quacks in the state poses life-threatening risks to the public. To protect public health, the association has urged an immediate and decisive crackdown on unauthorized medical practitioners. 

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"If this unlawful practice is not stopped immediately, it will lead to widespread health disasters. Patients risk suffering severe complications, permanent disabilities, or even death due to misdiagnosis, improper treatments, and the misuse of medications. Allowing this dangerous trend to persist could overwhelm healthcare facilities with preventable emergencies and jeopardise public trust in the medical system," reads the letter as reported by TOI. 

Quackery has become a serious concern for state health departments in the country. While a large number of unqualified practitioners are being discovered through raids every month, actions are also being taken against them.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Telangana Medical Council cracked a whip on 10 fake doctors and two Ayurvedic doctors practising allopathy during their inspection in different areas in the state. The council filed FIRs in connection accordingly.

It was discovered that these two Ayurvedic doctors were recommending allopathic medications, high-dose antibiotics, and steroids to pregnant women, in addition to performing tests on them.

The urgency of the matter comes in the wake of a recent announcement from the health department, which has arranged a meeting for January 3 to address a controversial proposal. The notification calls for a discussion among senior health officials, including representatives from the Gujarat Medical Council (GMC), the National Health Mission (NHM), and various alternative medicine boards, alongside Dr. Kamlesh Rajgor, the applicant. The proposal seeks to allow practitioners of Ayurveda to practice allopathy after undergoing "adequate study."

In this regard, an IMA official told the Daily, "The meeting is organised even after the judiciary in several instances ruled against ‘mixopathy' or the practice of one branch by the experts in another branch. We are against such mixing as it neither does justice to allopathy nor respects the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda."

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