HYDERABAD, Dec 7: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has asked quacks to wind up their business by Jan 15, warning them of serious action. He was presiding over a meeting held at the district nazim secretariat here on Tuesday to discuss ways of eliminating quackery in the district.

He said lack of health facilities and non-functioning of government health units had encouraged quacks, especially in rural areas, resulting in the spread of HIV and hepatitis-B and C in the district.

Mr Jamil said it was a tragedy that health units were there but medical staff concerned was not delivering services to people and the situation was being exploited by quacks.

He said that before eradicating the quack practice, alternative health facilities must be reactivated.

He directed the EDO, health, to ensure punctuality of medical staff at each health unit of the district and shift the staff from overstaffed hospitals to those facing shortage of staff. He said the EDO should also make available proper equipment and medicines at each hospital within a week, failing which he would be held responsible. He warned that ghost employee of the health department would not be allowed in the district.

The nazim also directed the EDO to prepare a union council-wise list of quacks working in the district and submit it to his secretariat and the DPO by Jan 1 so that action could be taken against them. He said that more than one month time was sufficient for quacks to stop their illegal business and for the health management to reactivate all health facilities in the district.

He said the EDO should also prepare a draft paper against the quack practice so that it could be recommended to the Sindh government for legislation. However, he made it clear to officers concerned that they could take action against quacks under sections 269 and 270, PPC, and even under sections 39(b), 54(i), 54-A, 67(i), 67-A and 88(b) part 5 of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001.

Mr Jamil formed a committee, headed by DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed with EDOs of health and law as members, at the district level. Four sub-committees, one for each taluka, headed by the DDO, revenue, with taluka health officer, taluka police officer and the taluka municipal officer concerned as members, were also formed to get orders of the district government implemented in letter and spirit.

He informed the meeting that the district government was working on a proposal to authorize union council nazims to register professionals of each field and take action against any violation within their jurisdiction under provisions of the SLGO, 2001. However, he said, till the system was streamlined, administrative action under the relevant law would be taken to ensure safe health facilities to people.

The DCO said the district government was already working for legislation against quacks and added that administrative steps had also been taken against quacks but due to lack of facilities, people were compelled to go to quacks who were using even expired animal medicines, antibiotics in excess and cortisone, damaging immunity system of patients.

The EDO, health, Dr Nazar Mohammad Junejo, told the meeting that of 200 hospitals visited during the current year, 51 had been closed and 80 warned to avoid wrong practices.