PHC, dist admin to take joint action against quacks 

LAHORE

The Punjab Healthcare Commission and district administrations have joined hands for eradication of quackery, and, under section 36 of the PHC Act 2010, deputy commissioners have been authorised to nominate district officers to seal quacks’ premises. 

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, another primary action which can be taken by the district administration is to constitute a district monitoring committee, which will be headed by a deputy commissioner. The chief executive officer of the district health authority will act as a secretary, while the latter will also prepare and maintain data-base of quacks, and report progress to the commission and committee, which will take action against quacks as per the PHC Act.

After the seal of the outlet, a report will be sent to the PHC, which will conduct a hearing. After a thorough evaluation of the case, the commission will send a disposal order to the district administration for de-sealing or taking any other action.

The authorised officers, may be assistant commissioners, CEOs, DHOs, or any other official nominated, will take action under section 36 of the PHC Act, and the powers have been already delegated to the commissioners and deputy commissioners by the commission to ensure sealing of quacks’ businesses. The officers will coordinate with other concerned authorities, identify ‘hot spots’ of quackery and also facilitate the PHC enforcement staff. It was recommended that health intelligence cells may be created as well.

It was suggested action should be taken against wall chalking and other advertisement modes. Moreover, public awareness campaigns be launched for which the PHC has offered a helping hand as well.

The district health officers were given guidelines for visiting quacks’ outlets, procedure to prepare reports and collect evidence.

Chief Operating Officer, PHC, Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan gave a detailed briefing about working of the commission, especially various steps taken so far for eradicating the quackery. He gave an overview of the PHC’s regulatory mandate, development and implementation of the MSDS in all the healthcare facilities. He said the PHC was a statutory body to regulate the healthcare service delivery, and the model had been hugely helpful in regulating the public and private healthcare establishments by promoting a culture of clinical governance.

He talked at length about the magnitude, variants, health hazards and unethical promotion through various types of the media, especially the traditional means, which could be stopped by the district administration.