DELHI'S 30,000 quacks are primarily responsible for the rapid spread of the Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TB). According to Rajesh Chawla, a chest specialist and president of the Delhi Medical Association, quacks do not understand the scientific basis of the new treatment known as the short course therapy. The association has been demanding that the government ban the quacks from practising medicine. But, beyond tabling of the Delhi Anti-Quackery Bill, their efforts have met with little success.

According to Chawla. even many qualified doctors are unaware of the new World Health Organisation (WHO)-approved technique, which requires close monitoring OITB patients for up to eight months while they take a mixture of four to five powerful anti-TB drugs every alternate day. Another specialist, S M Govil, says anti-TB drugs must never be sold except on the prescription and it is time that the public is made aware of the dangers.