‘Need to curb illegal medical practitioners’
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Nov 22 — A doctor, possessing a fake degree of a “qualified vaid” from Bihar, practising in Rajiv Colony, was nabbed for dealing in allopathic medicines. A case has been lodged in court in this regard and he can face up to three years’ imprisonment or fine.

*In Rattewali, following specific complaints by the village panchayat, a drug inspector carried out a raid for nabbing a doctor selling physcians’ samples and pocketing the money. He managed to evade him by pulling down his shop’s shutters on spotting the approaching official car.

*In similar raids in Azad Colony, the team comprising a drug inspector, a deputy drug inspector and a doctor managed to lay its hands on a few samples of allopathic medicine. The doctor went scot-free, taking the plea that these were meant for his personal use.

This week the Health Department launched an offensive against doctors practising “illegally“ in colonies and rural pockets of the district despite lack of proper credentials. Barring luck in an isolated case, the team met with lowered shutters, which stared them in the face.

According to an informal survey conducted by the department, the number of these “illegal practitioners” has gone up from a handful to over a 100 in the entire district where these have basically mushroomed in colonies where literacy levels are low. Most of them possess degrees from Bihar and West Bengal.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr HC Nagpal, says that the crackdown on these doctors began following directions from the Supreme Court which recommended the registration of cases in a recent ruling.

“Earlier, all registered practitioners were allowed to work in the absence of any licensing authority. However, in a ruling by a higher bench of the same court, the order states that a medical practitioner can practise only in the field in which he has acquired a degree,” Dr Nagpal informed.

It has been noticed in numerous cases that degrees in lieu of money have been granted to these small-time “doctors” who have shifted over to allopathic medicine, finding it more lucrative when their degrees permit them to practise as vaids and hakims only, he added.

The team, in most such raids, is faced with the arduous task of nabbing such practitioners. The shutters go down as soon as its vehicle is spotted and even if it manage to enter a shop, others manage to escape. The Health Department contends that if they are not guilty of any wrong, there is no need to lower their shutters and find escape routes.

“We cannot break open their shops and check up for such illegal practice. Our hands are tied. We are devising new methods of nabbing the criminals. The Civil Surgeons and Superintendents of Police have been issued instructions in this regard,” Dr Nagpal said.

The basic problem is that there is no licensing authority to streamline their mushrooming. Most of these people get themselves registered in Bihar and no verification is carried out later. Instead, each state must decide to register all its practitioners after verifying the credentials, leaving absolutely no loopholes, Dr Nagpal recommended.

It is learnt that earlier a similar exercise was carried out and all such doctors identified. Police cases under Section 420 of the IPC were registered but no action was taken.

In the absence of approval and implementation of Nursing Homes Act, under government consideration for the last few years, the menace is likely to continue with most of them likely to be punishable under the Drugs Act only.

Problems faced by the Health Department

*Most practitioners have acquired degrees from Bihar and West Bengal and have been registered there. Verification of any kind to establish their credibility is rarely done.

*In the absence of the Nursing Homes Act, there is no licensing authority, making it easier for them to set up there own shops and function as chemists and doctors.

*There is no law under which the doctors found guilty of offences are punishable.

Prosthodontists focus on aesthetics
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — The main focus of the pre-congress courses of the XXVIII Prosthodontists Congress, which began at the CII here today, was aesthetics. About 100 delegates from all over the country gathered to discuss hands-on experience on the latest developments in the field.

Prof Marinus Van Waas conducted a workshop on fixing artificial teeth in bones by way of implants. The delegates also had a hands-on practice in implanting teeth in artificial mandibles.

Mr Mike Clavin from Australia demonstrated the latest technique in metal ceramics and the emerging improvement in the field.

Dr T. Padmanabhan conducted a workshop on metal free ceramics. The new materials are closest to nature in appearance and are used for reconstructing and recountering the damaged teeth.

According to Dr Jagmohan Lal, these sessions will continue tomorrow.

ADMINISTRATION

MC meeting likely to elect 4 members
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh at the 42nd meeting of the General House, to be held on November 28, is likely to elect four members of the MC, who are to be nominated as members of the Home Minister’s Advisory Committee for Chandigarh.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, the other members of this committee constituted by the president are the UT Administrator, local Member Parliament, two members from the Zila Parishad (excluding the MP) to be elected by the members of the Zila Parishad; Mayor; one SC/ST members to be nominated by the Home Minister on the recommendation of the Administrator from amongst the members of the Zila Parishad/MC and one woman member to be nominated by the Home Minister on the recommendations of the Administrator from amongst the members of the district panchayat/MC. However, the procedure of election has not been specified and may create some confusion.

The House will also consider and approve the draft bye-laws, pertaining to tax on advertisement (other than published in the newspapers) prepared by MC on the basis of Chandigarh Advertisement Control order, 1954, after making suitable changes. The same have been approved by the Finance and Contract Committee in its previous meetings. The function of levy of fee/tax on advertisements, which was hitherto being collected by the Estate office, is in the process of being transferred to the Corporation once the bylaws are approved. The issue is likely to be hotly discussed as the actual transfer is yet to take place.

Another item pertains to the disposal of commercial property in pocket no: 1, Mani Majra. The F and CC has already recommended the disposal of 12 SCO sites and 22 booth sites in the area, on leasehold basis for 99 years, in order to meet the requirement of funds as projected in the budget estimates for the year 2000-2001. The said sites will be put to auction to generate revenue to meet the gap in the resources of the Corporation.

The controversial matter pertaining to the approval of installation of sectoral guide maps is also going to figure in the meeting. No decision in principle has yet been taken on this issue as objections are being raised by members that the contract of putting glow signs on various municipal areas was given to a company without the approval of the F and CC. The item is featuring on the agenda for third or fourth time.

With a view to ensure that garbage is removed from the containers on a day-to-day basis, the House will consider the item pertaining to the purchase of 150 garbage containers of 4.5 cu m capacity and 40 containers of 6.5 cu m capacity worth Rs 31 lakh.

The matter pertaining to according revised approval for the purchase of a deluxe bus at cost of Rs 12.12 lakh also figures on the agenda as the same has been referred by the F and CC to the house without giving any approval. The full payment for the air-conditioned bus purchased from Swaraj Mazda could not be made as the audit department has raised objections that the amount is beyond the limits of F and CC, which in 1999 was Rs 10 lakh.

The members will also give approval to the transfer of maintenance of Sector 17 parade ground to the Engineering department of the Administration. The auction of commercial sites of various categories in Chandigarh and Mani Majra will also be considered.

HUDA earns crores in auction
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Nov 22 — The commercial sites in Sector 20 drew a tremendous response from the bidders at an auction held at the office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority in Sector 6 here today.

As many as 22 out of 36 sites, mainly booth sites with and without basements as also SCOs, were sold with the highest bid being Rs 56 lakh for an SCO with a reserve price of Rs 47 lakh.

Of a total of 78 commercial sites put under the hammer, HUDA sold 28 sites, fetching Rs 8, 35, 35,000 as enthusiastic bidders responded to calls. Another sector which attracted a number of bidders was Sector 25 which comprised only booth sites.

Sites put up for auction were located in Sectors 16, 17, 20, 21, 25 and 5 of the Mansa Devi Complex. The most populated sectors of 16 and 17 which has 18 sites did not have any takers at all and were withdrawn.

It is learnt that another auction would be held next month in which the withdrawn sites and some additional sites would be put before the bidders.