Sindh Health commission on mission against quacks

The Sindh Healthcare Commission is on a successful mission to reduce 'quackery practices' all across Sindh.

According to the anti-quackery director, the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has achieved a growth momentum of 47% this quarter. In first quarter of year 2022, a total of 2,564 inspection and enforcement visits were conducted by anti-quackery teams.

As many as 495 HCE's were found in compliance of the law, while 1,581 HCE's were in violation under Section U/S 39-I(H).

A total of 768 HCE's were officially sealed by SHCC and 813 warnings were issued on malpractice and policy violations. Additionally, 430 follow-up inspections were conducted on previously legally de-sealed HCE's to ensure writ of law is sustained.

Fines were imposed on practitioners who were non-qualified or working beyond the scope of the law. The total penalties, imposed on multiple offenders during the quarter, was PKR 4.8 million.

According to the directorate's reports, there was a surge of illegal clinics since January 2022 across the province, creating an urgent need for SHCC teams to probe and identify illegal clinics propping up in heavily populated areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2022.