Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Jan 24: With doctors flagging the alleged quackery ongoing for years at Dara Harwan under the guise of a ‘miracle cure’ for liver diseases, the authorities today swung into action and sealed the establishment.
As per officials, the action was taken following a communication from the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, after the issue-with a focus on children-was flagged by its Paediatric Department, seeking immediate intervention.
In this regard, a team dispatched by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Srinagar, carried out the operation, sealing the clinic and collecting samples of the “medicines” provided to patients for testing.
“They cannot run the clinic without authorization. Prescribing medicines-whether Ayurvedic or otherwise-and providing therapies to patients cannot be done by an unqualified person, as it risks lives,” the CMO Dr Tahir Sajad told Excelsior.
He added that the collected samples would be tested to determine what was being administered to patients as treatment for liver diseases.
Doctors noted that the “medical treatments” given to patients with liver diseases at the clinic are unproven and often aggravate their conditions, thereby putting their lives at risk.
Ghulam Qadir Reshi, known for his ‘miraculous cure’ of liver diseases, has defended himself, claiming that he does not prescribe any medicines, particularly to children brought to him for liver ailments.
He further stated, “When doctors are unable to cure liver diseases in children, families turn to me for help. That seems to have upset the doctors, and nothing else.”
Earlier, the issue was raised by the Head of the Department of Paediatrics, GMC Srinagar, who wrote to the GMC Principal seeking immediate action to “safeguard” future generations.
The letter emphasized the need to protect public health and safety, calling for strong measures against the practice of quackery.
It highlighted that, over the past few years, there have been several cases of Acute Liver Failure involving patients who, after being discharged from GMC Srinagar, sought “miracle cures” at the clinic in Dara Harwan.
The doctors stated that these patients often receive unproven medical treatments and complementary therapies at the clinic, leading to complications that land them in the ICU with Acute Liver Failure, sometimes resulting in death.
“Kindly take all possible necessary measures against such unqualified individuals to safeguard future generations,” the letter urged.
Doctors who spoke to Excelsior said they have encountered cases of patients whose liver conditions worsened after seeking treatment at the clinic, including some who had been discharged from the hospital and later visited the facility.
“In many cases, especially those regarding children, we have seen it happening; whatever they are given there is not proven; we have seen cases in worse cases, often landing into intensive care,” a doctor said.
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