Quack-run clinics on Panchkula health dept's radar

While patient's come to their clinics with the hope that they will get better, these doctor's or quacks operating across Panchkula district are indifferent towards patients and care two hoots about the consequences.

They neither have a valid degree nor the licence for selling medicines. In operation since many years, most of these "clinics" are located in remote areas of the district.

Cracking a whip, the health department is working on a list of 11 quacks posing as doctors and claiming to be relieving people of their ailments.

HT visited these quack shops and questioned these alleged doctors and were in for a surprise.

At Pinjore's Ishar Nagar, Sohan Shah, who operates Shah Clinic does not mention any degree on the shop's board. When questioned about the same, he confidently replies, "I worked with a doctor for eight years. I was enrolled in an Ayurvedic college but they cheated me and did not give me any degree."

(Shah Clinic at Ishar Nagar, Pinjore. Many such clinics in Panchkula district are being run by people without the mandatory degrees. Sant Singh/HT)

Shah adds that he is an Ayurvedic practitioner and does not charge anything for consultancy but earns a living by selling medicines.

NK Dhali has been running Subrana Clinic in crusher zone, Chandimandir, Panchkula. A board outside his shop proclaims that he cures sex-related problems and piles.

Dhali claims to have done a diploma in allopathic medicines from Kolkatta, he says, "I charge just Rs 20-25 from my patients."

A health department team has already visited his clinic asking for his degree, but Dhali is unfazed and says, "My case is ok. I have been working fine. There is no problem with my clinic."

Dilbag Singh who runs DS Clinic in Subhash Nagar, Surjapur, Pinjore, confesses that he does not have a degree, but swears by his mantra of practise makes a man perfect. Singh who has been practising at the clinic for the last 15 years says that there has been no problem and neither has he spoiled any case.

With a degree in pharmacy, Singh says, "My clinic is like a first-aid centre. When someone needs an injection or a child gets hurt and they cannot go to Pinjore or Panchkula, my clinic comes in handy."

Pawan who runs Manu Clinic and Health Care Centre in Ishar Nagar, Pinjore, also confesses that he does not have any degree and he takes a token amount of Rs 20-30 from a patient. Pawan says, "Most of the labourers are my patients and I also sell homeopathic medicines to them." A health department team sealed his medicines on Monday.

Surinder who runs a clinic at Virat Nagar in Pinjore and Ram Udgar who runs Saloni Clinic, near the Chandimandir bus stand, also confess that they do not have any valid medical degree but are registered in Bihar and have been practising for many years.

According to deputy civil surgeon Dr Yashpal Singh, FIRs against these quacks could be registered for cheating and practising without qualification under relevant sections of the Indian Medical Council Act.

Dr Yashpal had recently got an FIR registered against Suresh Kumar who was running SK Clinic at Chandimandir's crusher zone. Suresh has been on the run since then.

Not really doctors
Dilbagh Singh runs DS Clinic at Subhash Nagar in Surajpur, HMT Colony, Pinjore
Raj runs RK Clinic at Chaunchowk near Batra Medicose, Pinjore
Sohan Shah runs Shah Clinic at Ishar Nagar in Pinjore
Pawan runs Manu Clinic and Health Care Centre at Ishar Nagar in Pinjore
Surinder runs a clinic at Virat Nagar in Pinjore
Ram Udgar runs Saloni Clinic, near bus stand, Chandimandir, Panchkula
Suresh Kumar used to run SK Clinic in crusher zone, Chandimandir, Panchkula
NK Dhali runs Subrana Clinic near crusher zone, Chandimandir, Panchkula
PK Vishwas runs Bengali Clinic near crusher zone, Chandimandir, Panchkula.
AK Vishwas runs Bengali Clinic near crusher zone, Chandimandir, Panchkula.
Surinder Sharma runs his clinic in Chandikotla, Pinjore