Heavy fine, RI await quacks

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry will introduce new legislation to impose tough punishments for quack doctors. A Rs 1,000 fine can be imposed on a quack doctor at present. This fine will be increased with five years' rigorous imprisonment under the new legislation, a Health Ministry spokesman said. The country has around 50,000 quack doctors at present.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena held a special discussion with Health Ministry Secretary Dr Ravindra Ruberu and other officials in this connection. Raids to nab quack doctors will also be increased, the spokesman said.

"Several amputations have been reported due to the wrong administration of injections by quack doctors. Some injections given by quack doctors have caused meningitis in children. Some die while others survive with various health complications due to wrong injections and drugs given by quacks," the spokesman said.

" Some quack doctors are retired pharmacists while some are using qualifications of their late relations who were reputed doctors. Some quacks use the knowledge acquired while working as dispensers," he said.