Minister proposes five yr jail term for quacks

6 February 2012 01:04 am

The Health Minister has decided to introduce a new law which provides for a five year jail term for quacks, officials said yesterday.
 
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena he had a discussion with his officials regarding quacks who practised in the country posing a threat to patients seeking treatment from them. It is estimated that there are about 50,000 such quacks in the country.
 
A ministry official told the Daily Mirror that the minister had instructed his officials to draft a new law to be placed before Parliament very soon. According to the official, the punishment for such illegal medical practitioners is very mild, and the minister had felt that stern action should be taken against them in future.
 
The minister had reckoned that at least a five-year jail term should be introduced for such offences. The official said that there were instances when quacks even administered injections to patients. (Kelum Bandara)