Two persons masquerading as doctors were nabbed here during the health department’s inspection against quacks.

Kalaivani (48) of Thondamuthur and Arumugaraj (50) of Alandurai, who were running clinics without proper medical qualification, were arrested.

“The Medical Council of India says only a person with allopathic medical degree can practice allopathy. But there are people who run clinics without any degree. They had not have even completed their schooling. If you look at our neighbouring state Kerala you wouldn’t find any quacks. Public awareness about fake doctors in our state is very poor,” said Dr B Ashokan, Dean of CMCH.

“Dengue is a real threat now. The health department is doing its best to prevent spread of the disease. But these fake doctors are just making the scene worse. Body pain and fever are the most common symptoms of dengue. When a patient comes with these symptoms, the fake doctors give pain killers and steroid injections. Dengue is an easily curable disease. But these quack doctors prescribe wrong medications and make things worse,” said Coimbatore District Malaria Officer Dr M Murugappa.

Action against the arrested quacks will be taken by the Directorate of Medical Services.