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Firozabad: It’s a sight that’s hard to miss as you wander the lanes of villages and the main town of Firozabad, where outbreaks of dengue and four other diseases have been reported: patients on cots, roadsides, attached to intravenous drips his wrist.
These are patients who are being looked after by quack doctors, commonly known as “”.satchel” Doctor (who carries bags covered by shoulders). The term is applied to non-MBBS practitioners or Ayurvedic, homeopathic doctors who describe Western medicine in their “clinics” around the district.
Firozabad district is currently battling an outbreak of five infections – dengue, malaria, scrub typhus, leptospirosis and viral fever – that have claimed at least 62 lives (80 per cent of them children) since they first emerged in late August. has done.
Speaking to ThePrint, several patients gave various reasons for approaching quacks, who charge between Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000 for two or three days of treatment. Among the primary complaints are: The perceived lack of attention to government health facilities and costly treatment available in private hospitals.
‘Equal treatment, easy access’
Some residents point out that quacks practice in their neighbourhoods, which means it’s easier to reach them than to wait for beds in hospitals “by pleading with doctors for attention”.
While the State Autonomous District Hospital Claims half its beds Available, ThePrint found last week two patients sharing multiple beds in a dengue ward.
Meanwhile, during the three-day visit, ThePrint saw several quacks offering treatment to dengue patients in their ‘clinics’. There were at least six ‘clinics’ in Makhanpur village, two in Mahadev Nagar in Firozabad city and two near Ghadi Tiwari village.
“They (Jholachhaps) are getting the same treatment near our homes as we used to get in the hospital,” he said. The only difference between doctors and these satchel Don’t they have a degree? While our children have died in hospitals, these doctors have saved many lives in our community,” said Bhanu Kumar Gupta, a pharmacist in Firozabad’s Makhanpur.
While the faith of many local residents in quack doctors seems unwavering, the latter claim that they do not attempt to replace doctors and only attempt to address the initial symptoms.
Meanwhile, district officials say they are doing their best to ensure proper healthcare for patients in government facilities.
‘Degree or not, he helped my child’
Toofan Singh, whose six-year-old son Sumit is suffering from viral fever and is being treated by a quack doctor, said “no one sees you in a government hospital”.
“There is no facility, you have to share the bed with the patients. So, I brought my baby here. I don’t mind if the doctor doesn’t have a degree. Whatever medicine they have given has helped my child feel better, so I am satisfied.”
Gauri Shankar, 60, whose wife is suffering from dengue, said she visited the district hospital, but there was no help.
“I went there two days ago, but nobody noticed my wife,” he told ThePrint Last week. “They gave us paracetamol and asked us to return to the village. He got no relief there. now with the help of a doctor Sir, My wife feels much better.”
However, quacks doctors claim that they do not attempt to treat serious diseases like dengue, and only provide first aid for fever or dehydration before referring patients to hospitals.
“I am only giving paracetamol for fever and glucose drip for dehydration. I know dengue treatment is not my cup of tea, so I refer people outside,” said a quack, who did not wish to be named. He claimed to have a bachelor’s degree in Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery.
When asked about the trend, Firozabad Chief Medical Officer Dinesh Kumar Premi said on 23 september Officials are doing their best to adequately contain outbreaks.
“The number of patients in SN Medical College (another name for district hospital) has come down from a peak of 470 to 270. This is not only because the disease graph is showing downward, but also because we have been admitting people throughout the day in Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers and giving necessary treatment on time without any cost. , “They said.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
Read also: People flee or send children in Firozabad because 5 diseases identified as ‘mysterious diseases’
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