Patna, Aug. 2: Soon, there would be no quacks left. They would not be done away with, but trained and engaged as community health workers.

The state has around four lakh quacks. These rural medical practitioners, as they call themselves, have no professional degree or training and employ allopathic, homoeopathic or ayurvedic methods to treat residents, putting the lives of many at risk.

But they will now get proper training for community health work in villages. “Now you (rural medical practitioners) would get proper training. No one will call you a quack after you complete this course. You will be able to treat patients suffering from some diseases. This is just an opening today,” former chief minister Nitish Kumar said, while addressing a Swasthya Samagam function organised by the JDU’s medical cell at SK Memorial Hall today.

The training programme is being worked out with the help of health officials, doctors and experts, Nitish said. “You treat patients but your focus should be on creating awareness about preventive measures to check diseases. Various diseases can be avoided if people take preventive measures,” Nitish said.

L.B. Singh, president, JDU medical cell, read out a message from chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who said the state would start a certificate course in community health.

Bihar Health Services Association general secretary Ajay Kumar, who too attended the meet, said: “Rural medical practitioners would get skilled training in a one-year certificate course. National Institute of Open Schooling would impart it to those who have at least done matriculation.” They would then be engaged as community health workers, he said.