VEHARI, July 22: Most of quacks and other unscrupulous elements are involved in manufacturing and selling spurious medicines in the district posing a serious threat to lives of the people.

A survey gives out that quacks in connivance with some health department officials were running their illegal business in rural areas, including Karampur, Luddan, Machiwal, Thingi Colony, Jalla Jeem, Mittro, Grahmorr, Pakhi Morr, 9-11/WB, Muslim Town, College Town, People’s Colony, Danywal and Tibba Sultanpur.

The use of spurious medicines on a wide scale is bringing about fatal diseases, including cancer and hepatitis.

A quack of Karampur claimed that he paid Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 per month to health department officials whenever they visited the area for the purpose of `checking’.

Another con-artist of Thingi said that he purchased medicines in big quantity from government officials every month, who collected these from various medical stores and clinics of quacks in return to allow them doing their illegal business.

When some area people raise hue and cry and bring the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned, the corrupt officials increase the rates of `monthlies’ and advise quacks to shift their clinics to some other places.

According to an estimate, 1,500 quacks in excess are practicing in different parts of the Vehari district.

The people belonging to all walks of life, including social and trade organizations, demanded that the government should impose a ban on the sale of spurious medicines besides taking stern action against those involved in this illegal business.

TWO DIE: A DHQ hospital peon died in a vain attempt to save a six-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole in Collage Town here on Saturday.