HC Annoyed Over Odisha Govt Affidavit On Fake Doctor Menace

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has expressed displeasure over an affidavit filed by the state government on the issue of fake doctors. The affidavit was filed following orders issued by the HC while hearing a PIL filed by Odisha State Legal Services Authority on the menace of fake doctors.

A division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice MS Raman said It is unfortunate that the affidavit does not address the issues regarding surveillance mechanism taken note of in the court’s order on June 22, 2023.

The court directed the commissioner-cum-secretary of Health & Family Welfare department to file an affidavit on surveillance mechanism to identify fake doctors within two weeks. It fixed March 27 for further consideration of non-compliance of the order, TNIE reported.

The HC in its June 22 order had directed the state government to file an affidavit on whether any surveillance mechanism to identify the fake doctors, is operational in the state. If not, whether the state government is planning to introduce surveillance to curb the menace of fake doctors and what further action it proposes to take against establishments either run by the fake doctors or collaborated by them.

As per the court’s order, president of Odisha Council for Medical Registration (OCMR) Bijay Kumar Mohapatra appeared before it in person on Tuesday and assured that he will put forth definite suggestions to deal with the menace of fake allopathic doctors after consulting the National Medical Commission and secretary of Health & Family Welfare department.

The court was of the view that the mode of identification of genuine doctors should be such that even an illiterate person living in can remote area can identify them and distinguish between a genuine doctor and fake doctor.