KARACHI, Aug 29: Eminent health professionals, lawyers and representatives of non-governmental organizations at a discussion have urged the government and legislators for an effective legislation to eliminate quackery and its publicity in media to save lives of innocent people.
In a unanimously adopted resolution tabled by PMA Karachi Secretary General Dr Qaiser Sajjad, the participants of the discussion urged teachers to help spread awareness about quackery and advise their students to play their individual role for its elimination.
The discussion on ‘Would you like to put your and your family lives in hands of quacks’ was organized by the Pakistan Medical Association at PMA House on Saturday evening.
Sindh Secretary Health Prof Noshad Shaikh was the chief guest and former governor Lt Gen (Retd) Moinuddin Haider presided over the session.
The resolution urged the government to take stern action against quacks and get their clinics sealed. Paramedics should be asked to strictly comply with medical ethics and practice. Public awareness should be created through media. Media ethics should also be strictly implemented to stop unethical promotion of quackery. NGOs should also work to address the issue, it demanded.
Moinuddin Haider said that quackery must be banned. To address the issue immediately, he said, the governor should be approached for issuing ordinance to cope with this menace.
“Now police, government departments and politicians are almost free from elections and it is hoped that they would initiate a campaign against quacks in the country,” he said.
Secretary Health Prof Noshad Shaikh agreed with other speakers on the issue of quackery and said there was no comprehensive and effective legislation in this respect. The health department is working on this aspect and seek cooperation of the PMA for effective legislation and its implementation. “We are now approaching to eliminate polio virus and will be able to solve all other health-related issues with the help of the PMA and other professional bodies,” he added.
PMA Secretary General Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that around 0.62 million quacks, including 45,000 in Karachi alone, were playing havoc with the lives of people in the country.
“All types of quacks are doing flourishing business here and unfortunately, media is promoting all types of quackery. Quacks are taking advantages from innocent people by claiming the magic treatment and cure from every disease and for disappointed patients,” he said.
PMA’s Anti-Quackery Committee Chairman Dr Aziz Khan Tank said despite constant efforts of the PMA, quackery was being promoted daily. He said that the PMA had nothing to do with any treatment method till it was being practised according to its limits. There was no effective legislation to combat with trend. Existing laws have many flaws, he said, and urged media not to promote quacks.
Among others, Prof Tipu Sultan, Dr Shabin Naz Masood, Saleem Zia, Abdul Bari Jeelani, Prof Mashhoor Alam, Khwaja Naveed, Khwaja Tariq, Rizwan Edhi, Raees Alvi, Ghazi Salahuddin, Sajjad Mir, Aneeq Ahmed, Hameed Maker, Dr Asfar Moez, Huma Bukhari, Dr Kaleem Butt and Dr Mohammad Ali Shah spoke on the occasion. —PPI