Pune Police Crack Down On Electro-Homeopathy Doctor Practising Illegally
Pune Police Crack Down On Electro-Homeopathy Doctor Practising Illegally
Pune, November 1, 2024
The Hadapsar police have initiated a case against an electro-homeopathy practitioner for operating a clinic in Manjari and prescribing allopathic medicines without proper registration and qualifications. The case was prompted by a complaint from Swatee Ghanwat, a medical officer with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), who had previously submitted a report regarding the clinic to the legal department. The police have charged the practitioner under Section 33 (2) of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961, which addresses unregistered medical practice.
This incident marks the second similar case this month, following a case against a 43-year-old clinic owner who claimed to possess qualifications in BEMS and ND while treating patients for piles. Rajesh Dighe, an assistant medical officer with the PMC, confirmed that action was proposed against the practitioner after verifying his documents.
Before any action could be taken, the suspect became aware of the situation, closed his clinic, and disappeared. After Dr. Kale was transferred, Dr. Swatee Ghanwat revisited the clinic and discovered that he was operating under a different name. It was found that he was not registered with any of the four medical councils, prompting the decision to take action against him. Senior Inspector Santosh Pandhare mentioned that inquiries with local residents revealed the practitioner had been running the clinic for two years, and a police team has been sent to locate him.
In a Supreme Court ruling on January 22, 2015, it was stated that there is no ban on electro-homeopathy practice. More recently, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court confirmed that there are no restrictions on practicing electro-homeopathy as an alternative therapy or on issuing certificates for studying this medicine. However, it noted that no degrees or diplomas can be awarded due to the absence of statutory regulations, and it specifically warned that practitioners of electro-homeopathy cannot use the title “Doctor” before their names.
