Quack found treating Covid patient

Barnala, May 11

An inspection committee comprising Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Gurminder Kaur and Drug Inspector Eekant caught a fake doctor, without a medical degree, treating a patient with Covid-19 symptoms at his gastro entomology centre (GEC) in Barnala.

After getting a report from the Health Department, Barnala SDM Varjeet Walia today wrote to the SSP seeking registration of an FIR. “A man, exhibiting his qualifications as MD, DNB (gastro) and MACG was running a GEC. He applied for a ‘D’ type oxygen cylinder three days ago. As I am the nodal officer for oxygen regulation, we provided him the oxygen on an emergency basis. The next day, he again applied for a cylinder, which raised suspicion as demand for an oxygen cylinder at a GEC was unusual,” said the SDM.

He directed the committee to inspect the GEC. The committee found a patient with serious medical condition on oxygen support. The doctor when asked to furnish his medical degree failed to do so. The committee, in its report to the SDM, said the condition of the patient was critical. The SDM sent an ambulance to the centre for shifting the patient. “But on reaching there, it was found that he had fled after locking his centre. All his contact numbers were switched off. We are worried about the condition of the patient, who too is missing,” said the SDM. — TNS