Hundreds of outlets run by ‘quacks’ busted

PHC teams visited, on average, 46 centres daily in every district

LAHORE:

The Punjab Healthcare Commission claimed to have busted 267 centres allegedly run by quacks outlets in 29 districts in the last three weeks.

In 2,234 raids on various types of treatment centres in different cities, the enforcement teams of the PHC found that 587 quacks had quit their businesses, while 1,272 centres had been put under surveillance.

The teams visited on average 46 centres daily in every districts. The number of centres of quacks sealed was 31 in Faisalabad, 27 in Gujranwala, 22 in Rahim Yar Khan, 20 in Lahore, 17 in Kasur, 12 in Rawalpindi and 10 each in Sialkot, Chakwal and Mianwali.

A PHC spokesperson said the Commission raided more than 124,000 treatment centres and sealed 36,298 alleged quackery outlets. Earlier in September last year, the PHC had sealed four hospitals and 92 backstreet treatment centres.

The hospitals that had been closed down were functional in district Rahim Yar Khan in contravention of various rules and regulations of the PHC.

Two major anti-quackery actions had been carried out in Muzaffargarh and Rawalpindi districts to seal 12 and 11 centres of quacks respectively.

Also, one backstreet treatment centre was shuttered in Okara and Chiniot each, Multan 8, seven each in Gujrat and Chakwal, six in Pakpattan, five each in Lahore and Jhang, while four each in Attock and Rajanpur.