Illegal abortions carried out by Quacks: Doctors ask the government to take actions
The recent news on the death of a teenage girl due to illegal abortion carried out by ‘quacks’ sheds light on how the so-called quacks function freely by fooling the people. The incident happened in Gajwel, a place in Telangana portrays the negligence of the country’s Healthcare sector. Following the death of the girl, Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have taken up the issue of these untrained medical practitioners existing in the state. IMA-Nizamabad unit has also planned to conduct a protest against the authorities to take actions against these ‘quacks’.
The Incident occurred a week back at a private hospital in Gajwel, where a teenager died due to termination of pregnancy in the fifth month by quacks. Treatments for ailments and even surgical procedures done by quacks are also prevalent, not just in the districts but also in Hyderabad. The ‘quacks’ operation is not confined to the state of Telangana either. There were several incidents where many patients were affected by the incorrect diagnosis. In Uttar Pradesh, 41 people were infected with HIV when an unqualified medical practitioner used the same syringe on the poor people promising them cheap treatment. Also in Jaisalmer, a patient died because of a wrong injection by a ‘quack’ doctor. All such incidents lead to one common point. The negligence of healthcare sector. Though authorities initiate actions against such misdeeds, it loses its steam after few weeks.
Dr. Sanjeev Singh Yadav, president, IMA-Hyderabad unit says that “It is the responsibility of the DMO to find and shut down such centers. Tackling the problem is simple but the government lacks action. After the crackdown two months back, the situation in the city is back to square one. “In most cases, quacks work under some doctor for a few months and then set up their own clinics and take up all kinds of surgical procedures. These cases come to light only when a death occurs”.
Quacks functioning freely in India means that the actions taken by the authorities are not strong enough to stop them. If not nipped in bud, the functioning of quacks might lead to a more dangerous tomorrow.