Unqualified: SHC orders health authorities to take action against quacks

Fake doctors are taking advantage of people's poverty and playing with their lives

SUKKUR: The Sindh High Court bench in Sukkur ordered on Wednesday the health authorities to take action against 'quacks' and submit a report.

The division bench of the Sindh High Court Sukkur comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput issued these orders on a constitutional petition filed by a citizen, Muhib Chandio, through his lawyer. The petitioner stated that due to criminal negligence of the health authorities, the business of quacks or unqualified doctors is flourishing throughout the Sukkur district, thus putting the health of the residents at stake.

He stated that these quacks are running private clinics in different localities of the city openly, where they are playing with the lives of the people to mint money, due to which many precious lives have been lost. In his statement, the petitioner alleged that medicine from government hospitals are being sold in the open market and there is no one to put an end to this.

In the meantime, district health officer Dr Hazoor Bux Tunio appeared before the court and was asked what action he has taken to curb this business. The DHO requested the court to give him some time to investigate the matter, which the court approved, directing him to submit a report within a month.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, Tunio said that he has assured the court that drastic action will be taken against the quacks. The number of quacks in the city and its surrounding areas, especially in the slums, is multiplying with every passing day. The business of quacks is flourishing in the slums because the residents avoid going to government hospitals due to the rush, but cannot afford to go to private clinics.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2015.