MITHI: Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHC) officials escorted by police sealed more than 10 clinics in different towns of Tharparkar on Sunday after finding their operators unprofessional and unauthorised people.

In a drive against quacks, SHC team led by its chairman Dr Tipu Sultan and deputy director Mohammad Yaseen Vesar paid surprise visits to more than 10 clinics in Mithi, Islamkot and Chhacchro towns. The team was escorted by police personnel of the respective areas.

Speaking to local newsmen in Chhachhro, the SHC team said the drive would continue until all so-called clinics run by quacks were shut down in the desert region and other parts of the province.

The persons operating the clinics as doctors were found to be unqualified and unauthorised. Accordingly, the clinics were sealed and the quacks were fined for running the private health facilities for years unlawfully.

The officials also warned doctors of government health facilities against avoiding their duties to run their private clinics. “If they are found sitting in their private clinics during the timings of their duty at government health facilities, we will seal their clinics and take disciplinary action against them,” Dr Sultan said.

The officials also warned quacks against making any attempt to reopen the sealed clinics. They said all other quacks should shut down their clinics before they could face stern action.

In one instance, the SHC team faced some resistance in sealing a clinic in Islamkot when its operator, Dr Ghansham Rathore, argued that he was a qualified dentist. The raiding team rejected his argument on the grounds that his authorisation was limited to dentistry and, therefore, he was not authorised to provide treatment for the other diseases at his ‘health centre’.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2019