Quacks practising in large numbers

Hemanthi GURUGE

The Ayurvedic Medical Council (AMC) has intensified raids to detect quacks practising around the country, said Ayurveda Commissioner P S K R Weerakoon.

He told the Daily News that they received information about the 5,000 bogus Ayurveda doctors who are practising around the country.

The public can inform about those bogus Ayurveda doctors to the AMC on 011 5672906, Weerakoon said.

The AMC has received several complaints regarding bogus Ayurveda doctors and action is being taken in this regard, he said.

Ayurveda doctors must be registered under the AMC which it is attached to the Ayurvedic Department.

The registration of Ayurveda physician fall under two categories - Registration of a physician who possess medical qualifications and registration of traditional physicians.

About 13,000 Ayurveda doctors are registered under the Council.

About 9,000 special Ayurveda doctors who are able to work as physicians engaged in traditional Ayurveda medicine have also been identified.

Altogether, at least 22,000 qualified Ayurveda doctors are working around the country, Weerakoon said.