Sweeping action: Three dozen ‘clinics’ sealed

Most were operating in the capital’s suburbs

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration on Friday found and sealed 37 fake clinics and quacks operating in different areas of the capital.

The fake doctors had been playing with people’s lives for many years through these illegal clinics, said an official.

According to a list available with The Express Tribune, most of the quacks were practicing in rural areas including Golra, Bari Imam, Sohan, Tarnol, Rawat, Bhara Kahu, Meherabadi in Sector G-12, Mera Jaffer, Mera Abadi in G-11, New Shakrial, New Iqbal Town, Khanna Pul, Lehtrar Road, Sihala, Loibher, Humak, Chatta Bakhtawar, Pind Begowal, Tarlai and others.

The data shows that the administration conducted raids at 61 clinics, of which 37 were found to be bogus.

According to the list, union council Rawat led with six clinics operating in Bari Imam, five in Bhara Kahu, four in Sohan, three in G-11 Mera Abadi, one in Tarnol, one in Chatta Bakhtawar and the remaining in Pakistan Town, Lehtrar Road and PWD Colony.

A senior health official said that the figure could go up if the administration conducts further raids. “This is an alarming situation and a big question mark on the health department’s performance in letting dubious clinics operate without being noticed for such a long time,” he said while asking not to be named.

A source in the ICT Administration said that the draft Federal Healthcare Regulations Bill has been pending with the National Assembly since January. The draft was finalised by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) to regulate and monitor public and private healthcare units in the capital.

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Registrar Brig (retd) Dr Hafizuddin Ahmed Siddiqui said that the body could only take action against doctors or clinics found to be using forged PMDC licences.

He said that the local administration was responsible for acting against other kinds of fake clinics.

Siddiqui said PMDC had taken action against 82 clinics operating with forged PMDC certificates in the last two years.

Mazhar Iqbal, an alleged quack, whose clinic in Sohan was sealed by the administration, first refused to talk to The Express Tribune before claiming he was only the owner of the building where an ENT specialist was practicing. He claimed that he was not in the clinic when the raid was conducted, before switching off his cell phone.

Rural Assistant Commissioner Muzaffar Ali Shah said that Iqbal was personally practicing at the clinic without any valid PMDC documentation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st,  2015.