Daily Times

LAHORE: Finally, the Punjab government has imposed a ban on quackery in all its form across the province to prevent diseases and increasing medical complications among patients who visit them due to lack of awareness.

The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC), established under the PHC Act 2010, has been empowered to take necessary steps to ban quackery in all its forms and manifestations. The commission aims at improving quality, safety and efficiency of the healthcare service in all public and private healthcare establishments across Punjab.

Unfortunately, according to reports, thousands of quacks are working freely across Punjab, worsening the medical conditions of the poor patients who visit them. The gravity of gruesome picture could be gauged that as many as 47,728 quacks have been identified in five divisions of Punjab during a survey conducted by the PHC.

In this connection, a notification has been issued by the Law Department, available with Daily Times, under which the PHC shall establish an anti-quackery cell for receiving and managing reports / complaints relating to the activities of the quacks or such others who may be found indulging in various forms of quackery.

This cell shall devise and streamline necessary strategies and steps, as deemed necessary and appropriate, for the eradication of quackery from the province in all its forms and manifestations and shall also issue necessary directions in this regard.

Under the rules, the PHC may authorise the executive authorities/law enforcement agencies through written instructions for exercising such powers as may be deemed necessary for visiting such premises to check the persons rendering healthcare services has/have the requisite valid registration from any of the registered councils.

The officer shall seize all or any relevant evidence, which he may deem necessary, including prescription slips, medicines being given and or administered to the patients by persons who do not have valid registration from any of the registered councils, and forward the same to the commission along with the report.

The commission has been authorised to seal premises, in case it is found that the person rendering any kind of healthcare services do not have a valid registration from either of the registered councils and shall also seal the premises, in public interest, in case it is found that quackery is taking place at the said premises.