PANJIM: While the State government is struggling to control the spread of COVID-19 from Mangor Hill to other parts of the State, the medical fraternity wants strict action against the doctor, who treated the fisherman’s family.
The doctor’s high-handedness in handling the COVID patients led to the spread of coronavirus in Mangor Hill, which is now the epicentre of COVID cases in Goa.
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The medical fraternity opines that the doctor erred in judging the sickness. The practitioners also alleged that the doctor is highly connected and hence no action has been initiated against him.
Investigations
revealed that the doctor is the brother of a highly influential deputy sarpanch in the locality, who is the right-hand man of a minister in the Dr Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet.
Information revealed that the doctor, who had tested positive in TrueNAT screening and negative later in second test, has now tested positive for COVID-19 in RT PCR test.
Dr Rajesh Naik, a Margao-based physician, said if the doctor does not understand simple guidelines then he may be a quack. “I do not know whether he is a qualified doctor or what degree he has, but the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is quite clear that whenever there is a patient with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) or Influenza Like Illness (ILI), the patient has to be referred to the laboratory for COVID testing, which has not happened in this case,” Naik said.
“Whatever has happened is bad and action has to be initiated if he was practicing cross-pathy,” he said.
Dr Govind Kamat, member of Goa Medical Council, confirmed that the said doctor is not a member of Council. “As per the rules, all practicing doctors with MBBS degree have to be registered with the Council. But I do not find his name in the list of registered doctors,” he said.
He further said that he has been informed that the doctor was practicing cross-practice. “If this is true, the government has to immediately initiate action against the so called quack,” Kamat said.
He said there are two types of quacks – Ayurvedic and Homeopathic registered but practising crosspathy allopathic medicine, and those with no degree, but practice allopathy and all other pathies.
He further said that despite many Supreme Court decisions cross practice has become being routine.
Another doctor, who did not want to be named, said there are many quacks supported by the government and politicians. “No action is being taken by the authorities. Poor patients go to them without realising that they are not qualified. It is the State’s duty to regulate medical practice and give people qualified practitioners,” he stated.
Another doctor said the government is propagating that Ayurveda or Homeopathy can treat COVID-19. “So people go to quacks. They don’t know whether they are having any ayurvedic or homeopathic degree. The Indian Medical Association cannot not do much as the government is supporting, them,” he said.
When Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant was earlier questioned he had said that the fisherman family in Mangor has been hiding some facts, which is being investigated. On action against doctor, he had replied, “We will conduct investigation and if found guilty will initiate action.”
Health Secretary Nila Mohanan, when asked whether the doctor was practicing cross-pathy, replied that an inquiry is being initiated in the matter. “Even CM has said an inquiry will be initiated and action would be taken,” she said.
