Special Cells in Districts to Check Menace of Fake Doctors in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Acting on the directive of the Orissa High Court, the government of Odisha has decided to constitute district-level anti-quackery cells to check the menace of fake doctors in the State.

The decision to establish these special cells was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena. In February 2024, the Orissa High Court had directed the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Health Department to come up with a comprehensive plan to introduce a surveillance mechanism to identify fake doctors in the State.

As per the decision of the Odisha government, each district will have a five-member anti-quackery cell. This cell will have representatives of the Collector and District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, CDM and PHO, representative of Indian Medical Association (IMA), nominee of the District Legal Service Authority as members.

The district anti-quackery cell will sit as and when required, on receipt of any complaint/information regarding fake doctors from any source, including electronic and print media, social media or caller etc and dispose of the matter.

The cell will send quarterly reports of such cases and action taken thereon to the Health and Family Welfare department.