FAISALABAD: Stepping up the campaign against quacks, the district administration claims to have detected doctors of the state-run hospitals who are running their private clinics with the help of unqualified practitioners.

These quacks not only prescribe medicines but also work in surgical clinics and perform procedures, especially in Jaranwala Town.

The District Health Authority (DHA) in Faisalabad has taken up the case with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for cancellation of postgraduate training degree of Dr Ghulam Meeran, Dr Umair Saleem of Allied Hospital and Dr Tasneem, emergency medical officer of Jaranwala’s THQ hospital.

Jaranwala is the biggest tehsil of Faisalabad and notorious for quackery which endangers public health. A study conducted a couple of years ago pointed out that a number of people in this tehsil had been suffering from hepatitis C one of the major causes of which is said to be administration of treatment by quacks.

In a letter to the PMDC registrar, the deputy district health officer (DDHO) of Jaranwala mentioned that a case had been registered against a quack, Muhammad Boota, who was running Boota Clinical Laboratory on Hassan Road as a clinical lab, ultrasound and digital X-ray unit.

Doctors found to be protecting unqualified practitioners in Jaranwala

“Dr Saleem has given two false affidavits during the police investigation in which he has protected the quack. Similarly, Dr Tasneem gave affidavit that she owned Boota Clinic that had been challaned in the past for being illegal,” says the letter.

The DDHO wrote another letter and pointed out that Nasrullah, who performs surgeries without being qualified, was nabbed in a raid a few months ago. “Two patients had been operated upon for C-section by the quacks and ultimately both were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospital, Jaranwala. The operation theater was sealed on July 9 last,” the letter reads.

The officer mentioned that during the police investigation it surfaced that Dr Meeran, a postgraduate trainee of Allied Hospital, had submitted a false affidavit to protect the quack surgeon.

According to the rules of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, a doctor as a PG trainee is not allowed to perform any kind of private practice. “He is guilty of misconduct, unethical activities and fraudulently protecting and promoting surgical quackery,” says the letter.

The officer has recommended proceedings for cancellation of his PMDC registration (77206-P) and PG training in the best interest of public.

Quacks are working in various parts of the district despite crackdown from time to time and a recent operation by the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC). It has sealed many such clinics that somehow get back to their business.

Doctors of the government hospitals say the PHC has failed to eradicate the menace of quackery.

Pakistan Medical Association Punjab chapter Vice President Dr Muhammad Irfan, who is an assistant professor at Allied Hospital, shared his view that the PHC seemed to crack down on “small clinics” and was ineffective when it comes to the facilities enjoying protection by influential people. He said the PMA had information about dozens of quacks working in the district.

Dr Irfan said the tertiary care hospitals were burdened and the government had to spend an extra amount on the treatment of patients who suffer at the hands of quacks. “The PMA will not support any qualified doctor who has any kind of association with the quacks and we also warn such doctors against supporting the quacks,” he said.

In many cases quacks were responsible for renal complications, he said and urged the powers that be to devise a strict policy to eliminate such unscrupulous elements.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018