Raids on quacks to continue

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Authority will continue to conduct raids and investigations on quack doctors and 'Ayurvedic' doctors who prescribe Western medicines to patients. It is believed that over 40,000 such doctors were 'practising' throughout the country at the moment, Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the Health Ministry had already received a significant number of public complaints on such 'doctors'.

It is totally illegal to treat patients without getting registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and without having the required qualifications to practise Western medical treatment. Even keeping Western drugs and selling them to patients are illegal under the current law. (The National Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Authority Act No 27 of 1980).

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena instructed health authorities to conduct raids, investigations and take into custody all quack doctors because they snatch the innocent poor patients' hard earned money, while causing them life threatening health complications.

During a recent raid health authorities had detected a large stock of Dexamethosone, which could not be used without a qualified doctor's prescription. The quack doctor and his 'lecturer' wife, had stored the medication for sale. 'The couple had also a 'blood sample collecting centre', he said.

Meanwhile Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Authority Director Dr. Hemantha Beneragama, said that the public could make complaints and inform relevant authorities about any irregularity they came across by dialing 0112695173 or faxing the complaint to 0112689704 or emailing to [email protected].

The identity of persons who give information would be protected and treated as confidential. All information on all registered drugs available in Sri Lanka could be obtained from www.cdda.gov.lk