The chief education officer Baramulla has suspended four teachers after their names figured in the list of persons allegedly running illegal clinical establishments cum medical shops at Buran and Trikolbal zones of Pattan Tehsil.
The decision came after the department of health issued a list of around seven government teachers allegedly found practising at their unauthorised health clinics.
“Among the list of seven government employees, four were found teachers. They have been suspended and a departmental enquiry has been initiated against them,” said CEO Baramulla, Abdul Ahad.
He said, “Two officers shall inquire into the matter and complete the investigation within three days,” he added.
Earlier, the block medical officer Pattan through a communication dated 09-08-2018 had forwarded a list of seven employees to the department of education Baramulla for departmental action after they were found allegedly running illegal medical shops cum clinics.
“This is to inform your goodself that during a surprise visit by the BMO Pattan on August 9, the following unqualified persons have been found running the medical shops illegally and among them are employees of education department,” the communication reads.
The department of health Pattan initiated a vigorous campaign against the imposter doctors and owners of illegal clinical establishments cum medical shops after a fake doctor was found practising at three different clinics across north Kashmir.
Later, in subsequent raids the authorities found one more fake doctor, a women from Jammu, practising and running a health care centre at Pattan. The officials later sealed the clinic and seized medicines from it.
“We have so far sealed 44 clinical establishments cum medical shops in and around Pattan tehsil. During the raids, it has surfaced that several government employees were running these clinics without authorisation. Among the identified government employees are 7 teachers, 1 official of PHE department and one of sericulture department” BMO Pattan, Dr Masrat said.
He said “The respective departments have been officially communicated and requested to initiate action against them.”
According to officials of health department, most of the sealed clinical establishments were found prescribing high dose of steroids which has potential to damage kidneys.
“The clinic sealed on August 14 at Pattan was found being operated by a fake women doctor from Jammu. During the investigation it was found that the women imposter would prescribe medicine to young girls for hormone therapy, etc. Lot of young boys too used to visit the clinic for steroids,” said Dr Masrat.
The mushroom growth of illegal clinical establishments across Kashmir prompted divisional commissioner Kashmir to issue directives to all deputy commissioners of Kashmir, Leh and Kargil to seal all clinics and testing laboratories found operating illegally.