LAHORE: Continuing with its crackdown, the Punjab Healthcare Commission on Thursday sealed five drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centres after rescuing 80 persons.

A spokesperson said 76 outlets of quacks were also sealed in five cities. The Liaquat Hospital in Lahore, Life Care Hospital, Nishan Rehab and Nishat Centre in Multan besides Umeed-e-Bahar Treatment Centre in Mandi Bahauddin were closed down after rescuing 80 inmates who were examined and sent with their relatives.

The rescued inmates were kept in these centres against their will and in violation of the Pakistan Mental Health Act. Moreover, these centres were being run without the required psychiatrists, doctors, qualified paramedical and other staff, proper emergency, residential and food facilities.

Jeevay Shah Dialysis Centre in Mandi Bahauddin was sealed because after registration with the PHC as a general practitioner (GP) clinic it was functional without qualified staff, blood bank and laboratory.

Moreover, teams of the PHC also closed down 76 quacks’ businesses in five cities, including 28 in Gujranwala, 21 in Faisalabad, 13 in Sheikhupura, nine in Kasur and five in Lahore. As per the data, of the 236 centres visited by PHC teams, 82 found to have started new businesses.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2018