The PMC’s delay in action contributed to the escape of the fictitious doctor

Pune: A five-month delay by the health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in filing a police case against a fake doctor practicing in Manjari has allowed the latter to elude the authorities.

On May 22, the PMC anti-fake doctors cell received a complaint against an electrohomeopathy practitioner who runs a clinic in Manjri and prescribes allopathic medicines without the requisite qualifications and registration with the medical council. And on October 30, the civil administration filed a first information report (FIR) against the charlatan at the Hadapsar police station.

The plaintiff is newly transferred Unit Medical Officer (BMO) Hadapsar Mundhwa Ward Dr. Swati Ghanwat.

The police registered an offense under Section 33(2) (Prohibition of practice of medicine by non-registered persons) of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961.

Based on the complaint, PMC officers conducted an inspection at the defendant’s clinic on June 27 and found that he had been practicing medicine for about three years. Following the legal department’s findings, the cell on August 13 ordered the then BMO Dr Snehal Kale to file a case against the charlatan.

Dr. Kale went on leave and sent a letter on September 4 stating that filing an FIR was not possible as the PMC had not yet taken full control of the medical services in the merged villages, including the Hadapsar-Mundhwa district area where the clinic was located, run by the fictitious organization. there is a doctor.

Hindustan Times published a report in its September 30 edition highlighting the double standards of PMCs where the civic body enforces the Maharashtra Old Age Homes Registration Act, 1949 in integrated villages but fails to take action against bogus doctors working in these areas.

Although Dr Kale was again directed to file an FIR against the quack on October 1, which is expected to be filed in seven days, it remained on paper until the doctor was transferred to the maternity hospital.

In its October 18 issue, HT published a report that show cause notice has been issued to the WMO for deliberate delay in filing an FIR against the fake doctor.

Later, the new BMO, who headed the department, filed an FIR. However, the false doctor is on the loose.

Dr Keil said: “Because I was new to this, I was asked for the opinion of older people. I was about to file an FIR, but I was shifted to the hospital. Since all the details of this case have been transferred to the new WMO, I cannot comment on this at this time.”

Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer and head of the PMC’s anti-fake doctors cell, said, “Since the FIR has been lodged, there is a possibility that the fake doctor will start practicing again. The defendant’s clinic is now run by another doctor. We have ordered health officials to alert us to the whereabouts of the quack, even though the police have already launched an investigation.”