KOZHIKODE: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has intensified its efforts to tackle the growing menace of quackery in the state following a tragic incident at TMH Hospital in Kottakkadavu, Kadalundi, Kozhikode. The arrest of Abu Abraham Luke, the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer (RMO), has raised serious concerns after the death of a 60-year-old man, Pachaatt Vinod Kumar. Luke, who was found practising medicine without completing his MBBS, was responsible for the care of Vinod Kumar who died on September 23.
In response, the IMA’s Anti-Quackery Wing, under the leadership of newly appointed Kozhikode Chapter president Dr Shankar Mahadevan, has vowed to clamp down on the surge of fake doctors across the state. Dr Mahadevan emphasised the need for immediate action, particularly in rural areas where quackery is rampant due to people’s ignorance. He said that quacks often operate without an MBBS degree, proper certification from the State Medical Council, or adequate training in modern medicine.
The IMA has urged private hospitals and clinics to verify the credentials of their doctors. “Doctors must possess a certificate from the State Medical Council to practice. This should be strictly enforced to prevent quackery,” said Dr Mahadevan.
The IMA has proposed several steps to curb the menace, including greater cooperation between regulatory bodies, healthcare professionals, and legal experts. Public health literacy campaigns are also needed to help the population identify and avoid fake doctors.
Dr Sasidharan from Kozhikode stressed the importance of creating a system where people can verify a medical practitioner’s credentials.
The IMA has recommended that the Kerala State Medical Council develop a feature similar to the Tamil Nadu Medical Council’s online registry for easier access to doctor details.
Under the NMC Act, those not enrolled in the State or National Registers are prohibited from practising medicine or offering medical advice in legal matters. The IMA has also called for the appointment of officers in State Medical Councils to file formal complaints against quacks and ensure legal action is taken swiftly.
The case came to light when Vinod Kumar’s son, Ashwin, a qualified doctor from AIIMS Delhi, raised questions about the treatment his father received. Ashwin accused Luke of medical negligence and revealed that the RMO had not even cleared his second year of medical studies at KMCT Medical College since enrolling in 2011. He shared his father’s medical records on social media, exposing a lack of proper documentation, including the number of CPR cycles or any necessary medication administration during treatment.