PHC shuts over 260 quacks’ clinics

LAHORE:

The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) shut down 263 illegal treatment centres during the last month in its anti-quackery drive in 11 districts of the province.

According to the PHC spokesperson on Sunday, the commission’s enforcement teams raided 1,473 treatment centres and found 367 quacks having abandoned quackery, while 78 centres had become legal as qualified physicians had started treating patients there.

The spokesperson said the teams would continue surveillance of 752 treatment centres.

Major action was taken in Lahore district, where 604 outlets were raided and 122 illegal centres were closed down.

Extensive action was also taken in Multan where 45 quackery outlets were closed down after 231 raids.

In Rawalpindi, 205 centres were raided and 28 businesses were sealed. On the other hand, 19 outlets in Kasur, nine in Muzaffargarh, eight in Bahawalnagar and seven each in Nankana Sahib and Sargodha, while five each in Chakwal, Sheikhupura and Jhelum were closed down.

The PHC has so far arried out raids on more than 135,000 businesses and shut down the practice of 38,490 quacks, while over 32,000 have quit their illegal activities.