Saving precious lives from quackery

Extensive campaign against unauthorised practitioners to be launched.

ISLAMABAD:

An effective drive against the rise of quackery in Pakistan is being organised. To this end, both electronic and print media are being employed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), which will join hands with the district authorities, Pakistan Medical Association and Pakistan Dental Association.

The Supreme Court had directed the President of PMDC to initiate actions against unqualified persons who create health-related havoc by misleading the public.

An extensive campaign against quackery across the country is being purported, following the orders of the court and keeping in view the threat of the spread of contagious diseases.

Moreover, the anti-quackery committee has planned to hold meetings with the stakeholders in major cities. The first meeting of this kind was held in Karachi on April 30, while the second one is planned to be held in Lahore on May 28. The session will be continued through monthly meetings in other cities.

According to PMDC Anti Quackery Committee Chairperson Dr Ali Farhan Razi, more than 600,000 quacks have been operating across the country, out of which majority of them were operating in the Sindh province with an estimate of 70,000 to 80,000 in Karachi alone. He said it is the need of the hour to take stern action against them. Quacks are a serious issue and must be taken up for the protection of people’s lives.

He added that proper health care is an individual’s right under the Article 9 of the constitution and that such a basic right cannot be denied to the public on account of unauthorised medical practitioners functioning throughout the country.

Pointing out the public awareness on the issue, he said “Most users of non conventional health treatments are people who feel-rightly or wrongly-that they are taking a broad view of their own health and their responsibility for it without caring for its financial and social outcomes.”

“The anti-quackery committee of PMDC with the assistance of federal and provincial governments has launched a campaign with the help of the qualified doctors, media and common public throughout the country so as to punish quacks and bring such illegal and unlicensed activities before the law according to the directions of the apex court.” Dr Razi stated.

He said quacks rely on never-ending testimonials and products, its uses and values and that this malpractice ultimately targets the main financial structure and the country’s economy has to spend a huge budget on health care services to cover the losses.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2011.