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On 24 August the union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda shot off a 200-worded letter to NDA ally and TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu urging him to take 'appropriate action and corrective steps under the law against quacks' in his state.
The wonder of wonders is that union health minister was compelled to do that after his junior state counterpart and Andhra Pradesh health minister Kamineni Srinivas held a press conference at AP secretariat on 21 August, announcing their government's intention to legally recognize the profession of quackery in their state!
It is another story that AP's yellow media, pampered by ruling TDP, did not bother to check the technical usage of the abbreviations RMP and PMP as they freely used the suffixes for their front page stories on the deadly initiative.
Well, if AP's health minister announces their 'path-breaking' initiative for rural health, will Telangana's ruling party politicians be behind?
You guessed it right as TRS MLA Srinivas Goud followed suit and urged the TRS government to recognise the services of quacks by issuing them certificates after proper training. Check this video link to listen to the learned MLA's speech.
What I don't understand is how these school and college dropouts can be trained to become doctors when all they have mastered during their free run during successive political dispensation was to indulge in bootlicking politicians besides a coterie of corrupt hospitals and doctors for their survival.
This is the reason why there are negligible number of criminal cases against quacks in rural areas as police stations cannot file suo motu cases unless there is a complaint.
For the record, it is an offence even to sell scheduled drugs without the prescription of a medical practitioner but what can one do when fake pharmacist and fake doctor join hands.
Those medical practitioner still doing ethical practice do not want to get into trouble as they face no problem in attracting patients, while those who indulge in unethical practice, need not complain at all as they get their patients on commission basis.
While it was a win-win situation for these merchants of death besides their political and few hospital and unethical medical friends, the hapless and gullible rural folks continue to see them as saviours as that's how they seem to project themselves in rural areas.
Sleeping IT department:
The Income Tax department may do well to keep a tab on the expenditure of quacks in the two states as two-thirds of these merchants of death with a decade long experience seem to earn more than what a PG medico earns in the first five years of their medical career.
This can be found out with a proper survey at the ground level as it is quite common to see these quacks roaming around in four-wheelers, independent clinics and continuous flow of commissions into their bank accounts.
There are reports that even corporate hospitals have started giving them priority as some of them are known to maintain separate accounts for these quacks on the commission they have to be paid and the business they are generating for their hospitals.
Why Telangana & AP politicians embrace quacks
When TRS MLA Srinivas Goud tried to make a case for legitimising the services of quackery in Telangana, he stressed how TRS wants to make 'Arogya Telangana' a reality.
"There is gross discrepancy in doctors to population ratio in the state besides shortage of MBBS doctors. Hence, they should be allowed to practice with proper training," he reasoned, while building up a strong case in favour of quacks.
Well, I wonder if the government employees -- the fraternity from where MLA Srinivas Goud owe his roots -- would agree to be treated by quacks under Employees Health Scheme.
In fact, politicians from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh may mask their deadly initiative saying that there is shortage of doctors or junior doctors do not want to serve in rural areas, what they do not want the people to know is how quacks play a crucial role in mobilizing public opinion in favour of political parties and candidates during elections in rural areas.
There is so much competitive appeasement that AP health minister went on record asking IMA leaders of their state to shut up, showing how their Telangana counterparts remained mute and passive spectators when the TRS led government announced the certificate programme for legalisation of quackery.
By the same logic, will both the governments also legalize prostitution?
The blame for this sorry state of affairs also equally fall on educated voters in both rural and urban areas as they do not turn out to vote, leaving pressure groups like quacks to call the shots during elections.
In fact, during 2016 GHMC election, TRS top leaders wooed them too hard and went about attending exclusive rallies organised by quacks as they were too powerful a lobby to be missed by any political party. Check this story in Times of India.
What laws are being violated?
I do hope that the judiciary takes note of this deadly mix of quackery and politics and pull up governments of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh one day.
What's strange is that no sane member from the medical fraternity thought of filing a public interest litigation (PIL) in the High Court questioning the move of the Telangana government when it issued Government Order (G.O) No. 428 in June, 2015.
For more updates, log on to www.dailyhealthnewsdigest.com
GOVERNMENT OF TELANGANA
ABSTRACT Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department – Permission to Telangana State Para Medical Board to start training to Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) / Private Medical Practitioners (PMPs) with Community Para Medic Training Programme, Constitution of Committee to oversee the Training Progarmme – sanction of an amount of Rs.46,01,840/-(Rupees forty six lakhs one thousand eight hundred and forty only) to meet the expenses Orders issued.
HEALTH, MEDICAL AND FAMILY WELFARE (F1) DEPARTMENT
G.O.RT.No. 428 Dated 29.06.2015 Read the following:-
G.O.Rt.No.1273, HM & FW (K1) Dept., dt.06.10.2009.
----------- ORDER:
In the reference read above the erstwhile Government of Andhra Pradesh have accorded permission to the Secretary, APPMB to start Training Programme to the Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) / Private Medical Practitioners (PMPs) to undergo training and sanctioned an amount of Rs.4.32 crores during the financial year 2009-10.
During this period 12900 Registered Medical Practitioners were trained.
2. Now the Government of Telangana has decided to impart “Community Para Medic Training” to Registered Medical Practitioners / Private Medical Practitioners in order improve their skills to Administer the medicines prescribed by the qualified Medical Practitioners.
3. Accordingly, the Government hereby accord permission to the Secretary, Telangana State Para Medical Board, Hyderabad to start Community Para Medic Training Programme to the Registered Medical Practitioners / Private Medical Practitioners already registered at Para Medical Board in Telangana State with the following guidelines in order to improve availability of qualified trained health providers in rural areas to attend, to the health needs of the rural community and to promote and improve health status. The Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare is authorized to sanction an amount of Rs.46,01,840/- (Rupees forty six lakhs one thousand eight hundred and forty only) to meet the expenses of the said training during the financial year 2015-16.
- 1. Treat acute minor ailments within the ambit of protocols and training status
- 2. Identify and refer to a qualified provider chronic and other cases of emerging morbidity and follow up the treatment, care and administer drugs as prescribed by a qualified practitioner.
- 3. Act as first responder and provide First Aid, CPR, arrest bleeding, positioning and mobilizing till qualified care is accessed,
- 4. Provide home care for chronically ill, handicapped, HIV positives, under a qualified provider advice,
- 5. Maintain records of cases and report unusual occurrences of cases.
- 6. Treatment & Control of Illness like Primary treatment of minor ailments,
- 7. Home treatment, Primary Health worker-treatment,
- 8. Risk identification & Referral,
- 9. Early identification, Emergency transport, Treatment at appropriate facility,
- 10. Emergency event management, Identification,
- 11. Appropriate First Aid and primary care,
- 12. Access to appropriate institute, Notification of Unusual incidence, Management of pregnancy, Childcare, handicapped & Old.
- 13. However the Community Para Medics shall not call themselves as Doctors
- 14. They shall not prescribe any schedule medicines
- 15. They shall not dispense any medicines other than over the counter drugs.
4. The Government hereby constitute a committee with the following members to review the programme once in a month for its successful implementation.
The Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare ….. Chairman
Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, Hyderabad
Director of Medical Education, Hyderabad Commissioner,
Vaidhya Vidhana Parishad, Deputy Commissioner (Training),
Telangana Vaidhya Vidhana Parishad, Hyderabad Superintendent of Hospital District concerned (Institutional coordinator for training) Secretary,
Telangana State Para Medical Board, Hyderabad….
Convenor President / Secretary of Telangana RMP – PMP Welfare Association of Hyderabad.
5. The Registered Medical Practitioners / Private Medical Practitioners shall undergo Community Para Medic Training for a period of one year and shall pass the examination conducted by Telangana State Para Medical Board. The passed candidates will be awarded with “Community Para Medic” certificate.
6. The Secretary, Telangana State Para Medical Board is requested to start the Community Para Medic Training Programme in 10 Districts of Telangana State either in District Hospital or Area Hospital which ever is convenient to conduct the programme.
7. The Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, Hyderabad is authorized to draw and disburse the amount now sanctioned to the concerned to meet the expenses to the said training.
8. The Secretary, Telangana State Para Medical Board / Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, Hyderabad shall take necessary action accordingly.
(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF TELANGANA)
SURESH CHANDA PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
To The Secretary, Telangana State Para Medical Board, Hyderabad The Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, Hyderabad All the members of the Committee
Copy to: The P.S. to Principal Secretary to Chief Minister The P.S. to Minister (HM&FW) The P.S. to Principal Secretary to Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department SF/SC
// FORWARDED :: BY ORDER //
For more updates, log on to www.dailyhealthnewsdigest.comWell, i wonder what's wrong if there is a similar G.O to help train fake lawyers and judges dispense justice, fake police officers to arrest criminals, fake politicians (very few are real ones) to represent people in the legislature, fake nurses to take care of patients....
It may also happen once there is a strong lobby group, i am sure.
By the way, in the above G.O. RT. No 428, the points highligted in yellow are the ones that go straight in contravention of section 15 of Indian Medical Council Act.
THE INDIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL ACT, 1956 (102 of 1956)
RIGHT OF PERSONS POSSESSING QUALIFICATIONS IN THE SCHEDULES TO BE ENROLLED.
(15) (1) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, the medical qualifications included in the Schedules shall be sufficient qualification for enrolment on any State Medical Register.
(2) Save as provided in section 25, no person other than a medical practitioner enrolled on a State Medical Register:-
(a) shall hold office as physician or surgeon or any other office (by whatever designation called) in Government or in any institution maintained by a local or other authority;
(b) shall practice medicine in any State;
(c) shall be entitled to sign or authenticate a medical or fitness certificate or any other certificate required by any law to be signed or authenticated by a duly qualified medical practitioner:
(d) shall be 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.
(3) Any person who acts in contravention of any provision of sub-section (2) shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both;
The reading of the section makes it clear that TRS lawmaker Srinivas Goud is totally clueless about The Indian medical council Act, 1956.
Why quacks go berserk in social media:
Well, with so much vocal political support in their favour and backdoor support from sections of allopathy practitioners' lobby, the quacks in Telangana are very open about what they want.
They have so much clout that their presence is now legitimized as they share membership in whatsapp groups of predominantly allopathy doctors (both government and private) and openly threaten them too without a whimper of protests from any quarters.
This is one such bold message that has been in circulation in social media.
Yesterday 29.p8.2017..3pm.V6 Chanal.Hyderabad. తెలంగాణ,ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ ప్రభుత్వాలు రెండు తెలుగు రాష్ట్రాలు గ్రామీణ ప్రాంతాలలో ఉన్న గ్రామీణ/పట్టణ ఆర్. యం. పి, పి. యం. పిల సేవలను గుర్తించి వారికి చట్టబద్ధత కల్పిస్తామని ప్రకటించడంతో ఇండియన్ మెడికల్ అసోసియేషన్(IMA) క్వాలిఫై డాక్టర్ల గుండెల్లో గుబులు మొదలైంది M.B.B.S,M.D లు చెసిన మీరు INTER, 10Th చదివిన ఆర్. యం. పి, పి. యం. పి గ్రామీణ వైద్యులను విమర్శిస్తూ పత్రికలలో I.M.A డాక్టర్లు మాట్లాడిన మాటలు తెలంగాణా రాష్ట్ర RMP,PMP,CP,EP, అసోసియేషన్ రాష్ట్ర అద్యక్షులు. యస్.వి.ఆర్. ఖండించారు. గర్నమెంట్ గ్రామీణ RMP వైద్యులకు శిక్షణ ఇచ్చి చట్టబద్ధత కల్పిస్తామని చెప్పడంతో మీరు ఎందుకు ఉలిక్కి పడుతున్నారో మాకు అర్ధం కావడం లేదు.ఈ విషయం లో మాకంటే మీకే మేలు కలుగుతుంది.ఏ రోగాలను మీ దగ్గర కు పంపలనో,వారిని మీ దగ్గర కు పంపంతాం. ప్రభుత్వం మా క్వాలిఫికేషన్ మెము చెసే పనిని బట్టి శిక్షణ ఇచ్చి మెము ఎం చేయాలలో అనేది గవర్నమెంట్ నిర్ణయం తీసుకుంటుంది,కాని మీరు ఎందుకు ఫీల్ అవుతున్నారో,
★మెము మీ బిడ్డలం మీ వద్ద ట్రైనింగ్ తీసుకుని గ్రామాల్లో ప్రాథమిక చికిత్సలు చెస్తు, మా నుండి కేసులను మీ వద్దకు పంపిస్తున్నాము. గవర్నమెంట్ హాస్పిటల్కి పంపిస్తున్నాము. మరియు మీరు వ్రాసిన మందులను ప్రజలకు అర్ధం చేసుకునే విధంగా వారికి తెలియజేస్తున్నాము. ప్రభుత్వం చేపట్టిన పథకాలను ప్రజలకు అర్ధం అయ్యేలా చెబుతున్నాం.ఇలాంటి మంచి పనులు చేస్తూ నిత్యం ప్రజలతో ఉండి ప్రజల అభిమానాన్ని పొందిన గ్రామీణ వైద్యులు ప్రభుత్వానికి ప్రజలకు మధ్య వారధిగా పనిచేయడం జీర్ణించుకోలేని క్వాలిఫై కొంత మంది డాక్టర్లు మా గ్రామీణ వైద్యుల మీదా బురద జల్లె ప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నారు.
దయచేసి మీరు, మీ హాస్పిటల్లో పనిచేయడానికి R.M.P, P.M.Pలు అర్హులె కాని, ప్రభుత్వం ఇచ్చే ట్రైనింగుకు అర్హులము కాము, అసలు గ్రామీణ వైద్యుల మీద ఇంత కుళ్ళు ఎందుకండి సార్, మీ ప్రభుత్వ హాస్పిటల్ లో పని చేస్తు ప్రైవేటు నర్సింగ్ హోమ్ లు నడుపరాదు, కాని గ్రామీణ వైద్యులమైన మెము నిజాయితీగా ప్రజలకు అందుబాటులో ఉంటూ ప్రథమ చికిత్సలు చేస్తు జీవనం కొన సాగిస్తున్నాము, ఏ ఒక్క గ్రామీణ వైద్యుడికి బిల్డింగులు లేవు కార్లు లేవు ప్రజల వద్ద నుండి ఫోన్ వస్తే గ్రామీణ వైద్యుడు వెంటనే స్పందించి సైకిల్ మీద లెేద నడచి వెళ్ళి ఫ్రాథమిక చికిత్స చేసి డబ్బులు ఇవ్వకపోయినా పర్లేదు అని వారికి ధైర్యం చెప్పి వస్తాము. దయచేసి ఇకనైనా మా R.M.P, P.M.Pల వ్యవస్థకు మద్దతు తేలపండి. తెలంగాణ 31జిల్లాలలో ఉన్న వైద్యులు మీకు చేతులేతి దండము పేట్టుతారు.........
ఇట్లు,
యస్. శేరన్న.s.venkat reddy.ameenpur.
RMP Dr,s Union Stete Prasident.
8185951155.7702598868.
Well, it is a different story that the state president spelled 'stete' and 'Prasident' wrongly but it is also a fact that the so called leader of quacks has levelled some serious allegations against government doctors in the state.
TJUDA Reaction:
The reaction from medicos has been on expected lines as they are the ones who would suffer the maximum brunt of the government's illogical decision.
If quackery is legitimized there is no way vacancies in government primary health centres would be filled as these merchants of death will have a free run offering their deadly cocktail to innocent people in rural areas.
The most vocal of the lot is Healthcare Reforms Doctors' Association (HRDA). In their Facebook post, they came out with an elaborate statement. Excerpts.
Hon'ble Mahabubnagar MLA Sri V.Srinivas Goud working relentlessly for achieving "UNHEALTHY TELANGANA" by encouraging Quack practice & keeping the health of poor rural people at stake.
Hon'ble MLA without proper knowledge & totally unaware of rules and regulations of Indian Medical Council Act, keeping in mind of vote bank politics is encouraging Quack practice (Legalization of RMP's & PMP's) by keeping poor people health at stake.
We would like to enlighten you regarding Section 15 of Indian Medical Council Act 1956 and few states like Kerala banned quack practice.
HRDA here requests Hon'ble MLA to strive for achievement of following things if he really cares for Health of Poor Rural People
1) To increase the number of PHC's to present population.
2) To implement your party's 2014 election manifesto i.e 24/7 30 bedded Mandal Hospital with 4 MBBS Doctors, Specialities, Up gradation of PHC's and Super Speciality Hospitals similar to NIMS in every district.
3) Recruitment of Doctors for PHC's has not been done since formation of your government. Try to do that & establish a Medical Recruitment Board for filling of vacancies every year in interest of public health.
4) Training of ASHA workers, Sub-Center staff to implement government health policies.
Bottom Line:
Only God can save the twin states from the curse of quackery. "It is now a hopeless situation," is how a former DME (Academics) Dr Achanta Vivekananda quipped.
For more updates, log on to www.dailyhealthnewsdigest.com
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