Health officials crack down on fake doctors in Chamarajanagar district

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Quacks and unqualified medical practitioners have been treating patients, prescribing drugs and administering injections in this border district right under the nose of the authorities.

Saleem Pasha was brazenly attending to patients himself.

Recently, locals exposed a lab technician who has been running a clinic in his wife’s name, who is a qualified medical practitioner, at Koudahalli village in Hanur taluk. The lab technician Saleem Pasha has been brazenly attending to and treating patients himself and even writing out prescriptions.

“With fake doctors increasing, we have decided to crack down on them. The taluk health officer’ teams and AYUSH officials are visiting every clinic and verifying the documents. Wherever the information provided is false, such clinics are being shut down. We have closed down five clinics in Hanur area.

Chamarajanagar District Health Officer Dr Vishweshwaraiah said teams will be formed to crack down on fake doctors.

“We will set up similar teams in all taluks and carry out inspections. There are 147 clinics in the district. Those whose licences have not been renewed will be closed down. Those operating mobile clinics will be arrested if we get information. We have referred the lab technician case to the police”, said Chamarajanagar District Health Officer Dr Vishweshwaraiah.