Union Health Minister J P Nadda has urged states to take appropriate action and corrective steps under the law against quacks besides evolving policies to ensure availability of quality health workforce in rural areas.
In a letter to the states, Nadda said the issue of "unregistered medical practitioners" who target the poor and uninformed patients and continue to exist in parts of the country, needs to be strictly tackled.
"In this context I would like to draw your attention towards Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 which prohibits a person other than medical practitioner enrolled on a State Medical Register to practice medicine in the state.
"Practicing medicine without having a recognised medical qualification constitutes quackery and is punishable with both imprisonment and fine," he said in the letter.
Health being a state subject, Nadda said, it was the responsibility of the state governments to deal with such matters.
"I request you to take appropriate action and corrective steps under the law against quacks and also evolve suitable policies to ensure availability of quality health workforce in rural areas," he added.
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