Tamil Nadu Medical Council to eliminate all quacks in 3 years
Chennai: Acting on the National Medical Commission's direction for eliminating quackery, the State Medical Council in Tamil Nadu has set up a 'Quackery Eradication Wing' to deal with the complaints in this regard.
Already Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) has received altogether 60 complaints against quacks across State within two months, reports The Hindu. Among these already 10 cases have been verified and the Council is prepared to file cases against them.
The information in this regard was shared by the president of State Medical Council, Dr K Senthil while addressing the media on Saturday at Government Rajaji Hospital. He further mentioned that the TNMC wing aims to eliminate all the quacks from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry within two to three years.
At present, the council has planned to divide the State into three different regions and appoint one prosecution officer for each of them.
Posing a threat to the sanctity of the medical profession and at the same time diabolically playing with the lives of the susceptible public, quackery is a growing menace in the country which keeps on mushrooming year after year. Under the facade of attractive advertisements and false qualifications claims, such miscreants dupe vulnerable patients, not only in their own operated joints but in renowned hospitals as well.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking a big step towards eliminating quackery in the country, the NMC had directed all State Medical Councils to appoint an officer who can file complaints before a court or any other authority concerned to take action against quacks.
A circular issued by the NMC on July 14 stated that as per the provisions of the NMC Act, 2019, the act of quackery and the medical practice by a non-registered/enrolled person is a punishable offence under section 34
''The court will take cognizance of an offense punishable under section 54 of the NMC Act upon a complaint in writing made on this behalf by an officer authorized by the Commission or the Ethics and Medical Registration Board or a State Medical Council,'' the circular issued by Dr Yogender Malik, member of the NMC's Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) stated.
According to Section 34 of the NMC Act, one who is not enrolled in the State Register or the National Register is not entitled to sign or authenticate a medical or fitness certificate or any other certificate which is required by any law to be signed by a duly qualified medical practitioner or entitled to give evidence at any inquest or in any court of law as an expert under section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 on any matter relating to medicine.
''Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both,'' the Act states.
Implementing the NMC directive, TNMC has now constituted a Quackery Eradication Wing, which will be headed by the President of TNMC and the office-bearers will include a vice-president, a registrar and an quackery eradication officer and a legal wing comprising senior advocates, adds The Hindu. Apart from this, additional officers will be appointed in each districts for investigating the complaints of quacks.
Referring to the wing, Dr. Senthil told The Hindu, "Infestation of quacks has been categorised as those who practise in towns and major cities, rural and the ones who advertise on media, especially television and social media."
"Once the complaint is received, it will be scrutinised, thoroughly investigated and with sufficient evidence, cases will be filed against them. In this regard, we will be filing cases against 10 quacks for violation of the NMC Act soon in the first phase, out of the 60 complaints we have received so far," he added.
Dr. Senthil was quoted mentioning by TOI, "As per sections 34 and 54 of the NMC Act, 2019, the act of quackery and the medical practice by a non-registered person is a punishable offence that can be punished with jail term up to one year and/or a fine. Further, state medical councils are empowered to appoint an officer to file complaints before a court or the concerned authority to take appropriate legal action against quacks."
He further informed the daily that two cases have been filed in Salem and Karaikudi where the quacks were practising as orthopaedic surgeon and cardiologist despite having no formal training in medicine.
Creating awareness in this regard among the masses is another crucial thing in this mission which will be concentrated next, Mr Senthil added.
The complaints against quacks can be made on quackery@tamilnadumedicalcouncil.org or be written, addressed to Quackery Eradication Office, Tamil Nadu Medical Council, 914, Poonamallee High Road, Arumbakkam, Chennai-600106.
Also Read: Anti Quackery Crackdown in Tamil Nadu: Health Department nabs 17 Quacks, 29 on run
