Fake Drug Racket: Quacks selling counterfeit drugs in name of 'Ayurveda', arrested

Vijayawada: Quacks of Andhra Pradesh are reported to be promoting fake drugs claiming to cure chronic diseases and are targetting people to sell and make easy money.

As per a media report in the Deccan Chronicle, many people claim that these quacks are ayurvedic practitioners, who can cure chronic illnesses like knee and joint pains, blood pressure, and blood sugar as also diseases affecting the liver, heart, kidneys, lungs. The people who claim to be practitioners used to set up makeshift tents in public places and in mobile vehicles with a public announcement mechanism in place. 

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Many of them also claim to have promised return money if they are unable to find a cure. 

"Mulika Vaidyam" is the popular name given to the herbal medicines in tribal hamlets of agency areas and they are effective against certain ailments. Some quacks are selling their drugs, without any scientific evidence of their preparations. 

Some of these ayurvedic practitioners are also made to do large-scale marketing by some corporates who are taking advantage of the former, however, their attractive packaging doesn't offer a lot of guarantee to a cure. The quacks generally give publicity to their products by roping in some TV artists to popularise their products, who are endorsed by swamijis, which they claim to have prepared in their ashrams. 

They often target the poor by selling balms, pills, lotions, etc at a lower price to attract customers. They ask for a consultation fee, followed by payment for lab tests and the purchase of a set of expensive drugs. 

The quacks keep on moving from one place to another, and hence it becomes difficult for people to trace them if they fail to get the desired cure. Many of them also establish first aid centers and sell products claiming cures for even tuberculosis, cancer, Aids, etc. The drugs control administration has a right to book such persons under provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, however, the quacks who are booked like that often pay up and manage to get away from punishments. 

The physiotherapist Rose Babu told the Deccan Chronicle, "As doctors recommend physiotherapy to those suffering from chronic pain in knee joints, back, neck, etc, we give a massage, heat treatment and get them to do some exercise. This involves a fee. Some ayurvedic preparations available with quacks are relatively cheap. Even educated people are using them. Such illegal practice should be curbed."

According to the AP chapter of the Indian Medical Association, the advertisements of such preparations which doesn't have any proven scientific record of cure and publicized via online and other means should be stopped. The AP Medical Council also has the right to take action on such incidents. As per IMA doctors, no advertisement claiming 'No Cure-No Payment' or 'Guaranteed Cure' should be allowed as it results in violation of National Medical Council norms.

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