CHENNAI: A quack who was running a clinic on Tiruvotriyur High Road was arrested on Monday following a tip-off by Express to health officials.
The accused J Arputharaj, who had studied only up to class 10 was running Surya Clinic and had been prescribing allopathic medicines to patients. His clinic was well known in the locality as he charged much less - just `30 - compared to a minimum of `100 being charged by other clinics.
Speaking to Express, M Kamala Kannan, superintendent, Directorate of Medical Services, said Arputharaj, aged 50, had been practicing for 30 years in the area. He was arrested in 2010 and subsequently released on bail.
When this reporter visited the clinic a few months ago, Arputharaj was seen posing as an MBBS doctor and even advised an injection after he made some enquiries.
The IV fluid bottles and tubes were seen hanging on the wall suggesting that Arputharaj was administering medicines intravenously to patients. Arputharaj was careful not to display his name, neither on prescription slips nor on display boards outside the clinic. The only place his name was displayed was behind his seat – a place not easily seen by the visitors.“He charged much less so a lot of people preferred him over other qualified doctors in the area,” said a pharmacist at a medical shop close to the clinic.