The quack in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district who is accused of infecting many patients with HIV by using a common syringe was popularly known as 'Rs 10 doctor'.
Rajendra Yadav operated in the Bangarmau area and his token fee and winsome personality ensured he got a lot of patients to the dingy room from where he operated. The majority of his patients were
poor labourers, rickshaw pullers and small vendors, who could not afford expensive medical treatment.
Officials allege that Yadav's use of a single syringe had led to several patients being infected.
Surprisingly, state health officials knew about the issue for quite some time because an earlier chief medical superintendent (CMS) of district hospital at Unnao, Uma Shanker Dixit, had written a letter to authorities after some patients were found to be HIV positive following tests at the district hospital.
Some of the patients had told the CMS that they were injected by Yadav with a common syringe.
According to the chief medical officer (CMO), Unnao, S.P. Chaudhary, Yadav was treating his patients just for Rs 10 giving them injections and medicines; all of this ensured a 'pull factor'.
Officials said 12 patients were detected as being HIV positive in July 2017, followed by 13 in November 2017 and 38 in January 2018; many of these patients claimed to have been treated by Yadav.
Yadav has been untraceable for the past couple of days and his clinic is locked. Interestingly, no one around his clinic has his address or phone number.
According to villagers, Yadav is in his mid-thirties and was well behaved and used to come to his clinic on his motorcycle.
Dohrelal, a villager, said Yadav used to open his clinic in the afternoon and used to remain there till 8 in the night.
According to health department officials, when the matter came to light, an FIR was registered against Yadav and the police are searching for him. However the local corporator, Sunil Kumar, alleges that health department officials knew about his activities for quite some time but never bothered to take any action against him.
Despite his shady deeds, Yadav seems to be quite popular with the local residents of his area. According to them, Yadav treated people in a friendly manner and charged a token amount as fees.
On the other hand, doctors at the state-run primary health centres (PHC) and community health centres (CHC) were rude in their behaviour with the patients and never gave them medicines from the hospitals.
Instead, they would always ask poor patients to buy expensive medicines from medical stores. It is well-known fact that PHCs and CHCs, which are set up by the government, are supposed to provide medicines to patients also, besides the treatment.
The UP government has taken the matter seriously after it came to light. State Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh said the government is aware of the matter and would ensure strict action against those found guilty. He said the accused has been identified and soon he will be arrested.
Chaudhary confirmed that a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the entire matter.
Meanwhile, National Aids Control Organization (NACO) has constituted a three-member body to help the state government authorities assess the gravity of the situation in Unnao.
