17 quacks arrested, clinics sealed.

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Vellore: Acting on complaints, officials from the health department arrested 17 quacks on Sunday in the Vellore district. The operation was carried out by 35 teams led by a Deputy Director and Joint Director of the Health Department who raided several places in the district to nab unauthorized medical practitioners.

Efforts are on to catch the other quacks who might have escaped. Several medicines and medical equipment were recovered during the raids and the clinics run by these quacks have been sealed.

Most of the quacks arrested had earlier worked as paramedics in private hospitals or as pharmacists. Their low consultation fees attracted a large number of patients. Some of these quacks who have no qualifications in any medical field used the identity of other doctors on their name boards.

According to officials, five quacks were found to be operating in Tirupattur, three in Thimmapet, four in Baradharami, and one each from Machampattu, Melpatti, Sumaithangi, Panapakkam, and Anaicut. The drive to track down quacks practicing medicine will continue as a preventive measure, as these quacks are playing with the lives of patients.