Quacks, self-styled naturopaths and traditional healers, who reportedly had a key role in the miserable response to the measles-rubella vaccination campaign in many districts in the State, continue to evade legal action while doctors claim that celebrities and some politicians are endorsing their work.
N. Sulphi, secretary, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala, told The Hindu that the government should take action against unqualified medical practitioners who dupe gullible people.
“Provisions of the Drugs and Magical Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which is meant to book quacks, are weak now. The Union government should modify them accordingly and ensure their enforcement,” he said.
Dr. Sulphi said that programmes should be held frequently to make people aware of the unscientific nature of treatment offered by these people who claim to have the support of leading politicians and celebrities.
A self-styled naturopath, who calls himself a ‘doctor’, lists among his patients a former Chief Minister and a senior leader of one of the Left parties.
“There are films depicting the miraculous escape of the hero from the clutches of cancer with the help of naturopaths. Such things can happen only in films. Some of the film stars seem to have fallen prey to misconceptions and are following them,” Dr. Sulphi said.
He pointed out, however, that there were also people like actor-turned-MP Innocent who sarcastically turned away naturopaths and fake healers when he was diagnosed with cancer.
A member of the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet too has come in for criticism for indirectly endorsing quacks. The Ayurveda Medical Association of India recently wrote to the Chief Secretary condemning the presence of Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar at a meeting convened by traditional unqualified ‘vaidyas’.
Rejith Anand, secretary of the association, pointed out that supporting the vaidyas was in violation of a High Court order. Only Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, and Homeopathy and modern medicine are the accepted form of medical practice in India and the court had clearly called ‘nattu vaidyan’ a ‘fake practitioner.’
Meanwhile, Jithin T. Joseph, one of the administrators of the Infoclinic Facebook page, who had approached the Kerala police against those conducting online anti-vaccination campaign, claimed that action was yet to be taken against culprits.
Dr. Sulphi alleged it was not surprising that these quacks were turning against vaccination, which would increase the immunity level among the people and hit their business.
“Only enforcement of law can stop their activities, like what happened in the case of smoking. The number of smokers had come down drastically after it was banned in public places and awareness drives were held simultaneously,” he added.
