Quacks mushroom in B'baria
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Our Correspondent
BRAHMANBARIA, Dec 4: The number of quacks (unqualified medical practitioners) is growing like mushrooms in the rural areas of the district taking advantage of inaccessibility of the poor people to government health services, sources said.
Rural people prefer to see "quacks" because of easy accessibility and lower expenses compared to qualified private and government medical practitioners.
In this situation, rural quacks are doing brisk business in the name of healthcare, exploiting the innocent people.
After visiting various areas the FE correspondent found that a number of quacks have been practicing at Chunta, Aourail, Pakshimul, Kalikachha, Noagown, Shahbazpur and Shazadapur villages in Sarail Upazila.
The quacks in many cases hang signboards bearing the names of qualified doctors to attract the patients. These dishonest rural practitioners also prescribe sub-standard medicines, causing hazards to many patients.
Local people said, they are to go to the quacks as physicians at the union health centers are rarely available in times of necessity.
They alleged that local administration is reluctant to take action against the dishonest practitioners.
Most of the quacks obtain their experience by working as medical or nursing assistants or helps with registered physicians or working as dispensaries in hospitals, clinics and medicine shops. During their apprenticeship they gradually get acquainted with the symptoms of some common diseases, learn the names of drugs and medicines, and develop a kind of skill in using thermometers, stethoscopes, blood pressure gadgets, measuring instrument and pushing injections.
With this type of limited knowledge most of the quacks start their practice. Some of them do not even possess this type of rudimentary knowledge and experience, particularly those who practice in the remote villages.
BRAHMANBARIA, Dec 4: The number of quacks (unqualified medical practitioners) is growing like mushrooms in the rural areas of the district taking advantage of inaccessibility of the poor people to government health services, sources said.
Rural people prefer to see "quacks" because of easy accessibility and lower expenses compared to qualified private and government medical practitioners.
In this situation, rural quacks are doing brisk business in the name of healthcare, exploiting the innocent people.
After visiting various areas the FE correspondent found that a number of quacks have been practicing at Chunta, Aourail, Pakshimul, Kalikachha, Noagown, Shahbazpur and Shazadapur villages in Sarail Upazila.
The quacks in many cases hang signboards bearing the names of qualified doctors to attract the patients. These dishonest rural practitioners also prescribe sub-standard medicines, causing hazards to many patients.
Local people said, they are to go to the quacks as physicians at the union health centers are rarely available in times of necessity.
They alleged that local administration is reluctant to take action against the dishonest practitioners.
Most of the quacks obtain their experience by working as medical or nursing assistants or helps with registered physicians or working as dispensaries in hospitals, clinics and medicine shops. During their apprenticeship they gradually get acquainted with the symptoms of some common diseases, learn the names of drugs and medicines, and develop a kind of skill in using thermometers, stethoscopes, blood pressure gadgets, measuring instrument and pushing injections.
With this type of limited knowledge most of the quacks start their practice. Some of them do not even possess this type of rudimentary knowledge and experience, particularly those who practice in the remote villages.