Doctors oppose quacks becoming paramedics

Tirupati: The Government’s order issued in August has kicked off a major controversy in the medical fraternity. AP Government Doctors Association, Junior Doctors Association, Indian Medical Association and others have been opposing the GO RT No: 465 which gives permission to AP Para Medical Board to give one-year Paramedics Training Programme for Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs), Private Medical Practioners (PMPs) and Rural Medical Practioners (RMPs) to certify them as Community paramedics.

The qualified doctors (with MBBS, MD etc) organised rallies across the State on Friday demanding the cancellation of the GO. They tried to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during his Tirupati visit on Saturday but were unable to do so. The agitators say the government is trying to certify the unqualified persons as community paramedics so that they can prescribe medicines and give treatment.

Legally, these unqualified doctors were not eligible to write prescriptions. Instead of taking steps to prevent and control them, the government encouraged the unqualified doctors to form ‘Telugu Nadu Paramedics Association’ which was affiliated to the ruling party. The members of this association will get a certificate after undergoing training for one year. JUDAs (Junior Doctors Association members) said that, already, there were 60,000 members in that association and there would be serious repercussions once they were given the certificates.

They say that Para Medic Course is a three and half year course. In such case, how can a certificate be given with just one-year training? Furthermore, to get para medic training, candidates need to work as emergency medical technicians (EMT) for two years. And to become EMT, one has to undergo six months course for which there is an entrance test.

The President of AP JUDA, Dr M Venkataramana told The Hans India, that they were objecting even the terminology used in the said GO. According to him, the RMPs and PMPs are the terms used for the highly qualified professional Medical Practitioners who are already qualified with MBBS and have registered in the Medical Council of India in olden days. But later on, the terminology was barred by the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956. These RMPs and PMPs do not have MBBS qualification; they have to be termed as the `Quacks’.

It may be noted that, the Union Health Minister JP Nadda also wrote to the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, in August itself to draw his attention towards section 15 of IMC Act of 1956. Practicing medicine without having a recognised medical qualification constitutes quackery and is punishable with both imprisonment and fine.

AP Government Doctors Association State Chairman Dr B Venkateswarlu observed that Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already banned quacks from practicing. Instead of taking such steps, the idea of giving them certificates legally is unfortunate.

The representatives of JUDA, IMA and APGDA held deliberations with the State Health Minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas in Vijayawada on Sunday and made their stand clear. Dr Venkataramana said, the Minister responded positively, and assured them that the government will take them into confidence before proceeding further in the issue.

By V Pradeep Kumar