Interestingly, quacks are the go-to persons for villagers as primary health centres do not function in most parts of the State

By Chithra Ajith

When the public health system fails, quacks rule the roost. Chakla, a village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, stands testimony to this fact. Located just 50 km from the State capital Kolkata, Chakla has 140 quacks, if Zero Foundation founder Abdul Nasar is to be believed.

The village has a population of 2,269 people as per the 2011 Census and covers a land area of 229.61 hectares. Though it has a primary health centre, the nearest functional government medical facility is located about 30 km away. The villagers, mostly daily wage labourers, seek quick relief from ailments. “Only then can we go to work the next day,” reasons Pia, a farmhand.

She is quick to guard her ‘doctors’ from misjudgement. “These pharmacies have been here for years together. As a child, my parents took me to Ayyub doctor. Whenever my kids fall ill, I carry them to the same clinic where his son Rana treats patients now.”   

Quacks operate out of village pharmacies, which are equipped with a medical store and outpatient/inpatient centres where even minor surgeries are performed. They cure patients with medicines they found effective through the course of their ‘practice’. The villagers find their treatment cost-effective, especially when the place does not even have an ambulance service or basic medical equipment support.