Bhubaneswar, 15/11: Scores of fake doctors are active across the state. After the arrest of Padmanabha Mukhi Karua, a fake doctor, from Sundargarh, drives have been launched to arrest such quacks. A special squad will be constituted by the health department, said health minister Naba Kishore Das. Those fake doctors will be caught, will be punished severely, it has been warned.

Padmanabha Mukhi Karua, who was giving veterinary medicines to ailing human beings,  is not a solitary instance. Several quacks  without having genuine medical degree are playing with the  life of  lakhs of gullible patients. For example, Pradip Mandal, head master of Jhola primary school in Umerkote area of Nabarangpur district. He has turned a self styled physician treating patients, instead of teaching students.

The fake doctors are more active in the area, where there is a dearth of bonafide doctors.They are minting money by taking the innocent and illiterate villagers for ride.

The problem is more acute in the inaccessible tribal –dominated pockets across the state.

“Playing with the lives of people is of course a severe criminal offence. So the persons accused of treating patients without having a genuine degree should be prosecuted by the health department and law-enforcement agency, “said a social activist.

“Though belated, the government move against such fake doctors is welcome”, said she.