Anti-quackery: Health officials move forward in campaign against quacks
Heads of major hospitals have been ordered to take action and report back to the health department
The condition of public hospitals in the province is so dilapidated that patients prefer not to approach them until it is often very late. This woman has brought her child to the Civil Hospital, Mithi, but complains of the lack of facilities at the hospital. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Instead of taking action directly against quacks in city, Karachi's health officials have directed the heads of major hospitals to take action against them and report back regularly.
The Karachi executive district officer (EDO), Dr Zafar Ijaz, through a letter dated July 31, has asked the heads of 13 major hospitals in the city to take action against illegal practitioners.
The hospitals included Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Civil hospital, Abbasi Shaheed hospital, Lyari General Hospital, Sindh Government Qatar Hospital Orangi, Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad, Sindh Government Children Hospital North Nazimabad and others.
Most of the hospitals' heads seem unhappy with directives, which they believe is outside their domain.
"We are already facing internal issues and it is not possible to take action against quacks," said the medical superintendent of Qatar hospital. He said that this action could only be taken by hospitals in rural areas or towns. He said that it is duty of the taluka health officer (THO) to take action against illegal practitioners.
Another official, who did not wish to be named, told The Express Tribune that health officers of tertiary care hospitals are already facing a number of problems. "How can we take action against quacks practicing outside our hospital?" they questioned.
Explaining his directives, Dr Ijaz referred to a notification of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) issued on January 5, 2010. He said that the hospital in-charges have been asked to do so in the past, but this is first time his office has written letters to all these hospitals. "The PMDC empowered them and it is their duty to take action," he added.
The Karachi EDO is of the view that most of major hospitals in Karachi are full of patients. "These patients come from clinics where quacks practice," he claimed. He said that all hospital heads, including teaching hospitals, are bound to obey these orders. "They must write to us if they have any problem."
On the other hand, the anti-quackery committee of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said that it is not possible for the hospital heads to implement these orders. "It is primarily the responsibility of the THOs to take action," said the committee's chairperson, Dr Abdul Aziz Tank.
The EDO has ordered officials to submit regular reports to his office, but not a single report has been submitted in the last two weeks.
Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has also directed assistant commissioners to take action against quacks.
According to PMA office bearers, there are around 100,000 quacks running clinics and maternity homes in different areas of the city, especially in the overly populated areas and slums.
Sources in the health departments told The Express Tribune that these quacks are very powerful. "Some are supported by politicians and some are supported by the general public," said the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2015.
Instead of taking action directly against quacks in city, Karachi's health officials have directed the heads of major hospitals to take action against them and report back regularly.
The Karachi executive district officer (EDO), Dr Zafar Ijaz, through a letter dated July 31, has asked the heads of 13 major hospitals in the city to take action against illegal practitioners.
The hospitals included Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Civil hospital, Abbasi Shaheed hospital, Lyari General Hospital, Sindh Government Qatar Hospital Orangi, Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad, Sindh Government Children Hospital North Nazimabad and others.
Most of the hospitals' heads seem unhappy with directives, which they believe is outside their domain.
"We are already facing internal issues and it is not possible to take action against quacks," said the medical superintendent of Qatar hospital. He said that this action could only be taken by hospitals in rural areas or towns. He said that it is duty of the taluka health officer (THO) to take action against illegal practitioners.
Another official, who did not wish to be named, told The Express Tribune that health officers of tertiary care hospitals are already facing a number of problems. "How can we take action against quacks practicing outside our hospital?" they questioned.
Explaining his directives, Dr Ijaz referred to a notification of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) issued on January 5, 2010. He said that the hospital in-charges have been asked to do so in the past, but this is first time his office has written letters to all these hospitals. "The PMDC empowered them and it is their duty to take action," he added.
The Karachi EDO is of the view that most of major hospitals in Karachi are full of patients. "These patients come from clinics where quacks practice," he claimed. He said that all hospital heads, including teaching hospitals, are bound to obey these orders. "They must write to us if they have any problem."
On the other hand, the anti-quackery committee of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said that it is not possible for the hospital heads to implement these orders. "It is primarily the responsibility of the THOs to take action," said the committee's chairperson, Dr Abdul Aziz Tank.
The EDO has ordered officials to submit regular reports to his office, but not a single report has been submitted in the last two weeks.
Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has also directed assistant commissioners to take action against quacks.
According to PMA office bearers, there are around 100,000 quacks running clinics and maternity homes in different areas of the city, especially in the overly populated areas and slums.
Sources in the health departments told The Express Tribune that these quacks are very powerful. "Some are supported by politicians and some are supported by the general public," said the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2015.