Wanaparthy: Quacks confident none will come after them
In Short
Clinics reopen days after being sealed
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Quacks confident none will come after them
Wanaparthy: There is widespread criticism that Health department officials have failed to act against RMPs and quacks who allegedly endanger lives of the poor by practicing medicine using unscientific methods and lacking proper knowledge or understanding. Although officials occasionally conduct inspections and seal one or two RMP clinics under unavoidable circumstances, they often resume operations within a few days, sparking further criticism.
While reopening a sealed clinic requires submission of permits and other necessary documentation, allegations suggest that the practitioners bypass regulations and resume their activities unchecked without any such formalities.
The department’s functioning is facing severe criticism. The attitude of officials has allowed private hospitals to engage in unchecked, illegal profiteering. There are allegations that officials are failing to curb RMPs who gamble with lives of the poor by practicing medicine with superficial knowledge.
Additionally, ‘first-aid centres’ that are sealed following inspections often resume normal operations within a week or ten days. While some attribute this to corruption, reports suggest that officials evade responsibility by citing pressure from politicians as the reason for their inaction. It is high time for district officials to respond and take stringent action against quacks and the unscientific medical practices of RMPs; residents of the district are urging action to be taken.
DMHO Bhaskar Naik said: We warn that strict action will be taken if first-aid centres provide treatment beyond their authorised scope; they must limit themselves to first-aid only; if they exceed the limits—such as maintaining facilities like nursing homes or administering IV fluids—we will take stringent measures. We have constituted a special team to monitor this; the centres are permitted to provide only first-aid.”
Last year they cracked down on hospitals operating illegally with sole aim of making money. Approximately 29 first-aid centres and a private hospital in Atmakur were sealed. However, a wave of criticism arose because they resumed operations just days after the sealing.
Inspections conducted on May 14 in Wanaparthy and Peddamandadi mandals resulted in sealing of two first-aid centres in Balijapalli and two in Gandhi Chowk. Some sealed centres operate without permission. Regarding the first-aid centres in Pebbair municipality residents question why officials have delayed inspections, despite the facilities operating like nursing homes and providing treatments beyond the scope of first-aid.
There is a speculation that former DMHO Srinivasulu was transferred out of the district after he took a tough stance against the first-aid centres. Locals allege frequent transfers of officials over the past year have led to a lack of oversight regarding the centres.
