In India, a big number of medical practitioner exist, who in common parlance are addressed as “Jhola chaap” or “Quack.” The term Jhola chaap carries the meaning, “a petty medical practitioner, who carries a ‘small sack,’ which is equipped with common medicines or patent drugs, applicable to certain classes of ailment.” This doesn’t mean that these practitioners are ‘ a moving doctors’, rather they install, a clinic at some remote locality and serve as a doctor. They register their presence as a ‘doctor,’ in general, and their clinics are often found in rural areas or or in slums of cities.
Target of raids, by authorities
Often, they are target of untimely raids, of government led team of Medical Council of Provincial Officials. In that case, either their credentials to practice as a medical practitioner are subjected to the scrutiny, or their clinics get seized by this team. Otherwise also, a legal proceeding is bound to be initiated against them. The “quack” is described in the sense, who is not eligible to run this kind of clinic and is not authorized by the government, to practice as such.
But sometimes another category of practitioners become victim of this inspection drive, who has been granted permission under that category. For instance, not long back a standard parameter prevailed, if a person, who worked as a medico assistance, was authorized to practice as a doctor. In this case, Service as a male nurse under some authenticated medical practitioner, for a period of ten years was needed.
If his record of service was satisfied enough, his patron doctor was eligible to issue him, a certification to practice as “private medical practitioner. His long experience of curing ailments and first aid dressing skill, was sufficient to establish him as a medical professional.
Further in this context, a number of people, who studied deeply about homeopathy, who imbued with a conception about homeopathic drugs that these drugs don’t have any side effects, if administered wrongly. This category of people, too are in the category of “quack.” Though, the “authenticated homeopathic practitioners,” who have got proper certification and running the practice, are in proper category of medical practitioner. A good number of them are registered, but they too become victim of this drive. Likewise, the medical degree holders of traditional “Ayurveda’ or “Yunani medical practitioners,” too become subject to this crucial drive.
In sooth Quacks as skilled one
It’s not that all these “quacks” happened to be unskilled. Being fraught with sagacious experience to cure general ailments, they are capable of providing the proper relief, and they work in this capacity . Then, why and how this long series of “Quacks” flourished? As per the standards set up by the Medical Council Of India, every medical practitioner should be equipped with a certification to practice as such. This certification, is allocated only to prescribed recognized courses, by the concerned Councils.
General recognized medical degree is MBBS. But, whosoever is holder of MBBS degree, does not prefer to provide services in backward or rural areas. It’s because of his being a carrier oriented fellow. So at the initial stage, he considers it a “stupid decision” to waste his prime youth time in rural or remote areas. Then, only ‘option’ to serve at these neglected areas is left upon the shoulders of these so called “petty medical practitioner” or “quacks.” And all these are service providers in the private sector.
Quacks as a big relief
As on today, 68% population of India inhabits in rural ar,a and only 2% of Indian Medical Council certified doctors opt to provide their services in that sector. Along with it, the “private sector medical practitioners,” provide their services to the Urban population and this is inclusive of all categories of doctors. As far as the quality standard of public sector medical services (i.e. led by government run hospitals) is concerned , that is not up to the standard. In fact the service providing system of public sector needs an overall hauling.
Quacks as the mainstay to poor class
Now the highly inflammable question floats. Whether by eradicating these “petty private medical practitioners,” or so called “quacks”, this can be helpful to solve the problem. Perhaps No!!! These quacks are the mainstay to the financially disabled, weaker section of the society. In his physical agony, he seeks help from these petty practitioners. In this reference, we should recall the tradition followed in China during the Communist regime of comred Mao tse Tung. His regime, happened to send petty medical practitioners, to serve as the party worker in remote rural areas. They were given the name, “bare footed doctors of China.”
Apart from this, perhaps in all developing countries and up to some extent in other countries as well, a general habit people follow. People for their petty illness like toothache, headache etc, depend upon the prescription of the “Chemist,” on the Counter sell of drug shop. This is also the promotion of quack tradition. Not that government is not worried about the issue. The insurance companies are launching “medical policies” in this respect, but that is also expensive.
Welfare schemes
As far as India is concerned, here a welfare scheme has recently been launched by the government of India. This scheme provides every one to get medical assistance, free of cost, up to the value of rupees five lacs per year. This medical service he can obtain, from any privately run hospital, on the panel list of the government. Though, some draw backs still exist in the policy. These drawbacks, needed to be removed and hopefully government is working in that direction too. In over all, the tendency to look down upon these “petty medical practitioners” prevails. But, still in the perceptive of the nation like India with such a huge population, they work as a mainstay. Penned by– Vinay Pharasi….
