Srinagar, Aug 7: Illegal Unani and other alternate-medicine clinics have mushroomed in the Valley, putting the lives of gullible patients at risk, with state health authorities failing to curb the menace.
Reports from various areas said the quacks have a free hand in absence of regulations from the health authorities. The practice is rampant in every district with Srinagar leading the list where quacks are claiming prowess in the profession of naturopathy and alternate medicine taking patients for a ride and putting their lives to huge risk.
This newspaper is in possession of prescriptions written by these self-proclaimed professionals which clearly reveal their criminal acts.
One of the prescriptions by a clinic near Rambagh here claims they have remedies for every kind of illness. But the clinic indulges in cross-practice prescribing Allopathy medicines. However, in order to play safe, the clinic operators either write the drug name in code words, like Tab U-T, Tab S-P, Inj Q-6 or give separate slips clearly prescribing allopathic medicines.
“Most of the people because of their ignorance fail to judge whether the person curing them is a genuine practitioner or a quack,” a senior Unani doctor said.
He said some clinics install ‘therapy machines’ and take huge money from the patients. “Some of them have not even qualified their secondary school examination and are Matric fail. But they just know how to operate different machines. They pretend to be specialists in the field and in the process cheat ignorant people,” the doctor said.
A quack running a clinic in Wathoora, Budgam, prescribes high dose Allopathic medicines which, according to a senior physician, only super-specialists can prescribe. His prescription claims that he has obtained a long list of unknown degrees except MBBS and BUMS.
Another prescription claims that a ‘doctor,’ who operates from three different locations including Dalgate, Lasjan and Kanipora, is specialized in two systems of medicine and has done MBBS as well as BUMS degrees from Calcutta University.
While looking at his prescriptions, one gets amazed to read the pathetic use of English: “Dr Sheikh Gh Ahmad, MBBS, Reg no 20002; BUMS, Reg no 1707; Calcutta University; Physicain, ALAP, ARYADIC AND UNANI (sic).” He too indulges in prescribing Allopathic medicines and advising huge diagnostic examinations to the patients.
Some quacks have even gone an extra step by claiming expertise in all fields of medicine including dental and cosmetic care. A quack with an unknown degree ‘MD, BAMC’, operating in Ichgam Budgam, claims to be member a member of ‘Indo Allopathy and Medicine Herbalism.’ He is an all rounder having ‘expertise’ in “Unani Panchkarma, Homeopathic, Acupuncture and Electro Homeopathy, Allopathic, Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Biochemic, & Unani Medicines; Opthalmology, Dental and Cosmetic Care.”
A physiotherapist in Kawapora, Tirgam, has openly prescribed medicines to a patient from Sumbal, a prescription reveals.
In open violation of medical guidelines, these quacks use the title ‘Dr’ against their names.
“The practice flourished over the years in absence of sufficient regulation by the Health Department, which affects licensed and genuine practitioners. It also brings them and their profession ill repute,” an official said wishing anonymity. “There are hundreds of such clinics active in valley operating mostly around Government healthcare institutions taking advantage of inadequate health facilities at government hospitals.”
Whether it is near the SMHS Hospital, tourist hub Dalgate, densely populated areas like Batamaloo, Rambagh, Panthachowk and Karan Nagar, these quacks can be seen ‘curing’ people of all ailments without having any qualification and registration. Some of them have even taken refuge near religious places and bus stands.
“The quality of treatment and the qualifications of these practitioners are doubtful. Health authorities should focus on patient awareness so that patients can choose the right places for treatments and not compromise their safety,” cautioned a senior doctor.
When contacted, the Director Indian System of Medicine, Dr Kabir Dar said that the department had no regulation before. “However we have issued notices to all such illegal clinics and other establishments in the state to stop functioning without registration and license from the competent authority,” he said.
Dr Kabir said if anybody was found running Ayush nursing home, private hospital or clinical establishment without registration and license from the competent authority, he shall be dealt with strict action under rules.
The department has referred to various government orders and notifications while issuing the regulation. The government has appointed Director ISM, J&K, as the supervisory authority for such establishments vide SRO 234 dated July 23, 2012.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST