LARKANA: Deputy Commissioner Tariq Manzoor Chandio on Saturday ordered a district-wide crackdown against all quacks and sealing of their clinics. He also asked the officials concerned to take legal action against operators of the medical stores selling counterfeit medicines.

He issued such orders after chairing a meeting of stakeholders, who informed him that a large number of unregistered medical stores across the district were involved in selling fake and substandard medicines, while unqualified individuals, including dispensers and lady health workers (LHWs), were running clinics and serving as doctors.

The participants discussed a strategy against quacks and unauthorised medicos.

Larkana District Health Officer Dr Shaukat Abro, Deputy Director of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), Larkana, Dr Mujahid Hussain, Assistant Director Imtiaz Ali Memon, Assistant Director Adeel Sajid, Assistant Commissioner, Larkana, Raja Qureshi, and DAOC Dr Rawal attended the meeting and gave their input.

The officials briefed the deputy commissioner about the current situation regarding quackery in the district. They revealed that a large number of suspected quacks had already been identified, and demanded appropriate action.

The meeting was told that operators of many medical stores were found selling medicines to their customers without valid prescriptions, facilitating self-medication and also selling counterfeit medicines.

DHO Dr Shaukat Abro cited a recent tragic case in which a child died due to measles complications resulting from treatment by an unqualified practitioner. Taking serious notice of the situation, DC Chandio asked health officials to launch an immediate crackdown across the district against all quacks and unqualified medical personnel, and seal the clinics found to be operated by unqualified individuals.

It was also agreed to initiate strict legal action against the hospitals and clinics over unhygienic conditions, particularly those failing to dispose of medical waste in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and Sindh Healthcare Commission.

Action should also be taken against unregistered medical stores and operators of such outlets selling medicines without prescription or dealing in counterfeit medicines, the DC said.

He said that all qualified doctors should prominently display their valid PMDC registration numbers at their clinics. The other stakeholders were asked to conduct a comprehensive survey of pharmacies, medical stores and private clinics across the district.

The DHO Abro was appointed as the focal person for the anti-quackery campaign. He will coordinate with the SHCC and police, and submit weekly reports to the DC office detailing actions taken, sealed premises and FIRs registered.

The DC Larkana stated that quackery posed a grave threat to public health and that human lives could not be put at risk. He assured the meeting participants that the district administration, health department and SHCC would work jointly to eliminate quackery from Larkana.

He appealed to citizens to consult only qualified doctors and report quackery on the SHCC helpline.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026