Odisha: NHRC summons Health Secretary over woman's death by quack

Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has served a conditional summon to the Odisha Health secretary for inordinate delay in submitting an action taken report relating to the death of a woman by a quack.

The woman died in 2020 while being treated by a quack.

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The NHRC issued a conditional summon on Wednesday u/s 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to appear before the Commission on August 25 next along with the requisite report and explanation for the inordinate delay.

The summon was issued on the petition filed by Pratap Kumar Mohanty, a Kendrapada -based RTI activist and Human Rights defender.

Mohanty had alleged that Laxmibala Mandal (the victim), had gone for treatment to a quack doctor who had opened an illegal clinic in that area. The victim died within 30 minutes of treatment.

The petitioner alleged that more than 20-30 patients lost life every year, after being treated at the hands of quacks in Kendrapara.

Pursuant to the directions of the Commission, Kendrapara SP had submitted a report on December 22, 2020, stating that Laxmibala Mandal died after taking one dose of medicine given by quack Tanmaya Giri.

The SP had stated that neither the husband nor any family members of the deceased informed the police that the deceased died due to wrong treatment. He said a case would have been registered and a post-mortem of the body would have been conducted if a report was filed by the victim's family.

The quack was running a medicine shop at Jamboo Market and was practising medicine in the locality but soon after the incident, he fled. The medicine shop was later seized. The drugs Inspector seized that unlicensed premises and also seized drugs worth Rs. 50,000.

The Commission considered the matter in March 2021 and directed the Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha to submit the Action Taken Report on the matter.

He was also directed to take strict steps to check the quack doctors in Kendrapara District and submit the report within four weeks.

Since no response has been received till date despite reminders to the Health Secretary to submit the requisite reports in the matter, the NHRC issued a conditional summons.

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