Crackdown: Sixty-three clinics sealed, 14 quacks detained

PMA claims around 60,000 such clinics run in different parts of the city

KARACHI: At least 63 clinics were sealed and 14 quacks were detained in different parts of the city. The action was taken on the directives of commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui instead of the health department that is primarily responsible for keeping a check on the business.

The commissioner has directed deputy commissioners to visit their respective areas daily, report to him weekly and take action against such practitioners who play with the lives of innocent people.

According to the anti-quackery committee of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), around 60,000 such clinics and maternity homes are being run by quacks in different parts of the city, especially slums. Dozens of such doctors play with the lives of people in Keamari alone. Families have also raised their voices but are unable to take action due to the absence of a proper platform.

Read: Healthcare challenge: Campaign against quacks soon, says Salman Rafiq

"These clinics exist in narrow streets and quacks, for a few hundred rupees, play with the lives of people," said Siddiqui, adding that the administration will not allow anyone to run such illegal activities. He also advised people to be wary of quacks and complain to the administration about their presence anywhere.

Appreciating the steps taken by the administration, anti-quackery committee secretary Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said that an extensive crackdown is required against quacks. "The campaign should continue for a long time," he urged.

Dr Shoro said that there is no exact data about the total count of such clinics in the city. "The data of 60,000 is an old one," he said. "The number is around 100,000 now."

Read: Unqualified: SHC orders health authorities to take action against quacks

According to some senior medical officers, quacks are being supported by political parties and criminals. They say that it is not an easy job to shut down these clinics forever.

"Several clinics were raided and closed a few months back in Lyari, but all have reopened recently," a medical officer requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune. "The health department, politicians and law enforcing agencies are involved and support quacks," he alleged, saying quacks seem more powerful than real doctors.

"The Health Commission Bill is the only solution," suggested Dr Shoro. He said that the health department has no power to take action and the administration can help the department to taken action against quacks.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2015.