On SC orders : Punjab launches app to tighten noose around quacks

On Saturday, CJP set a seven-day deadline for police to arrest all quacks

LAHORE: The Punjab Health Department launched an app on Sunday in order to tighten the noose around quacks across the province.

On Saturday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar set a seven-day deadline for the Punjab police to arrest all quacks in the province. "Punjab police should have taken strict actions against such people," the CJP said. "In seven days, all of them should be arrested and a report should be submitted before the court of the record," he added.

On Sunday, talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Salman Kazmi, a general physician at Mayo Hospital, who actively takes part in the anti-quackery campaign with Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC), said that everybody knew that quacks have their strong set up in every corner of the province. "After the SC's decision, the quackery would be eliminated completely."

Dr Kazmi claimed that now civic administration, health department and the PHC would join hands to arrest all quacks as ordered by the CJP. "The setting up of the app is a good decision because from now on nobody can run their treatment centres once it has been raided because the app will update automatically."

Secretary of Health Ali Jan Khan while presiding over a meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Sunday said that the decision to launch the app was taken to ensure that 100 per cent clinics of quacks will be shut down. "No negligence will be tolerated in this regard." "Some members of the paramedical staff of the government hospitals are also involved in this malpractice, which is a shame. This unlawful practice should be stopped right away," said Khan.

He also directed all the chief executive officers, district officers health and deputy district officers health of all the districts to immediately start a crackdown on the quacks in compliance with the orders of the CJP. Khan added that as and when required, the services of drugs inspectors also be utilised in this campaign.

Khan directed the CEO of health to immediately consult deputy commissioners concerned and work in close liaison with the PHC as well as respective assistant commissioners.

The PHC, which has an important role to play in order to carryout operation against the quacks, has convened a meeting of all the departments concerned to devise an anti-quackery strategy. As the main autonomous body for eliminating quackery in its all forms and manifestations, the PHC has also ordered all executive authorities to come in its aid in performing the task and achieving the desired results.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2018.