ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has launched a crackdown on private laboratories for allegedly issuing fake Covid-19 test results in collaboration with some travel agents.

“These laboratories are unlawfully giving wrong PCR test reports of coronavirus as per the desire of the people with the involvement of some travel agents,” IHRA Chief Executive Officer Dr Quaid Saeed Akhunzada said on Saturday.

He said it was also observed that some labs had issued such Covid-19 reports without receiving blood samples or even issued negative reports to positive patients to make their traveling easier with having wrong dealings with travel agents.

Dr Akhunzada said: “We will not allow anyone to run any such illegal business in the medical field. They are playing with the health of people while deceiving health authorities.” He said IHRA inspection teams had started surprise visits to all such labs and their collection points. The authority has suspended the services of three laboratories while more were under observation.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2021