The residents of Peshawar on Tuesday demanded the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to take strict action against quacks and unqualified doctors as they are playing with the lives of hundreds of innocent people every year. The citizens have complained that several localities of the city, particularly the congested Khyber Bazaar have become a hub of quacks and demanded the government to take strict action against them including unqualified dentists.
Khurshid Alam, a resident of Nowshera, told APP that the government should soon launch an anti-quackery campaign, particularly in the areas of low-income groups of society to save people from hepatitis B and C and other viral deadly infections. He alleged, it had also been observed that in many areas the government hospital's ward boys, technicians and OT assistants are practising dentistry after putting up fake certificates of homeopathy.
He urged the authorities concerned to come forward and play their role to curb the practice of unqualified dentists and look into the matter and ensure eradication of quacks. According to some reports, the quacks, particularly unqualified dentists, are spreading hepatitis by making the lives of innocent citizens to high risk.
Alam said the provincial government by giving attention to this issue should launch a comprehensive campaign against quacks and make legislation to save precious lives. The citizens said a large number of quacks and unqualified dentists are working in the city without required knowledge and qualification and demanded immediate ban on them.
The citizens also demanded an immediate action against those officials who are reluctant to take action against them. Dr Tahir Ali Khan, Professor Department of Science and Dental Materials and Vice-Principal of Sardar Begum Dental College, Peshawar, when approached by APP said that a quack can put the health and life of a patient being treated by him in high danger due to lack of proper professional knowledge.
He said the patient is distracted from getting proper treatment on the assumption of being treated by the quack which can result in advancement of disease. He said indiscriminate use of injections by these quacks is main cause of the rampant spread of Viral Hepatitis.
Dr Tahir Ali Khan said at any time these quacks put the life or organs of their patients in danger by embarking upon those therapeutic procedures or using those medicines regarding which they have the least knowledge. He urged people to approach specialist doctors for treatment in their own interest to discourage quackery.