LAHORE: In its continuous campaign during the last week, the Punjab Healthcare Commission has conducted raids on over 600 treatment centres in 16 cities and sealed 99 quackery outlets, says a press release.

Two first information reports (FIRs) were also registered with D-Type Police Station Faisalabad against quacks namely Muhammad Shabbir and Malik Muhammad Mushtaq for reopening their [sealed] centres. Also, services at six laboratories, including four in Rahim Yar Khan, and three clinics were suspended for not implementing the minimum service delivery standards (MSDS).

The owners of these centres have been directed to implement the standards, and submit compliance reports to the PHC for restarting the services.

In 600 raids on almost all types of healthcare establishments (HCEs) including hospitals, 132 quacks have quit their businesses, with the largest number of 31 being in Toba Tek Singh. Moreover, 308 centres have been put under surveillance to thwart any attempt at quackery.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2020