Unethical practices: PHC seals 116 treatment centres

LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) closed down 116 treatment centres of quacks in three cities. According to a press release issued on Saturday, the PHC teams had sealed 116 businesses of quacks in Lahore, Faisalabad and Jhang districts during the last week. The sealed quacks’ businesses were categorised as 50 general quacks, 30 fake dentists, 20 hakeems, three each medical stores and homoeopaths and a laboratory. In the Faisalabad district and three tehsils, 45 quacks’ businesses were closed, which comprised 22 general quacks, 16 fake dentists, four bone-setters, two hakeems and a laboratory. In the district of Jhang, its tehsil Shorkot and other small towns, 41 fake treatment centres were closed down, which included 12 hakeems, 11 fake dentists, nine general quacks and homoeopaths. In Lahore, the PHC teams sealed another 30 fake treatment centres in different parts of the city. PHC spokesperson said that the commission has sealed more than 8,400, and imposed a fine of about Rs65.55 million.  

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2018.