Action against Quackery: 2 quacks under APMC scanner for practicing without medical qualification

Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) has decided to take action against two Nirjuli-based quacks for prescribing medicines to patients without a recognised medical qualification or licensure from the council.

The duo has been associated with the Mobia Drugs House & Diagnostic Centre, and Hareendaran PM (alias Hori) from the Alphabet Hospital. The APMC Registrar, Dr Mika Umpo has promised action against them for violating the rules of the APMC Act of 2004.

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The allegations were brought forth by the Junior Doctors’ Association of Arunachal Pradesh (JDAAP), a doctor's body who wrote a letter to Dr Umpo, raising concerns over, "the audacious illegal practice of modern medicine by these unqualified practitioners (quacks)."

The association demanded urgent action against them alleging blatant disregard of the APMC regulations. The letter stated, "The audacity displayed by the doctors is a big slap on the face of ethical medical practitioners of the state who strive to uphold the integrity of the profession. This unauthorised and illegal practice poses a significant risk to public health and safety, unabashedly placing innocent lives at grave danger."

One of the accused reportedly pretended to be a registered medical professional and prescribed medicines based on the prescriptions of his son. The other accused, Rakib, also has a complaint against him for prescribing medicines without an MBBS degree and a license.

Following the complaints, the council informed the Papum Pare deputy commissioner who then informed the concerned officials to take the required action.

The doctor's association said that the duo violated the 'basic medical standards, the APMC Act, 2004, the APMC Rules, 2006, and Article 4 Clause (h)' by practicing medicine illegally, as per a media report in the Arunachal Times.

Further, talking about the accused, the association stated, "The collaborative, deliberate and misleading tactics of fooling, impersonating and cheating innocent people’s trust and confidence should also attract a severe disciplinary action against him for his unholy involvement in the malpractice, including his removal from the APMC register."

The APMC registrar, Dr Umpo said, "We will examine the complaint minutely and will act as per the law. The council will act on the basis of facts. This may take some time, but there will be definite affirmative action." He added, "We can’t allow quackery to work in Arunachal and put people’s lives at risk. Those who violate the law, action will be taken (against them) as per law in the interest of the people of the state."

Refuting the allegations, one of the accused said, "We have replied to the authorities and clarified the matter." He retired after working as a pharmacist at the NERIST (North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology). There was another complaint regarding illegal practice against him back in 2012.

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