Businesses of 217 quacks sealed

LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) sealed the businesses of 217 quacks in the last two days.

The PHC teams visited 770 treatment centres in 13 districts, including Lahore, and closed down 217 businesses being run by quacks. Among them, 28 quacks were in Kasure, 24 in Faisalabad, 18 in Sargodha, 17 each in Sialkot and Muzaffargarh, 16 each in Sheikhupura, Multan, Gujrat and Rahimyar Khan, 14 in Pakpattan and 13 in Attock.

consultative meeting: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) on Thursday held a consultative workshop for implementation of the Supreme Court order regarding registration and licensing of the cardiac catheterization laboratories.

The meeting was attended by all the stakeholders, both from the public and private sectors. Senior officers of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSR&C), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and provincial health departments were also present.

PHC Chief Operating Officer Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan chaired the session, which was moderated by Director Clinical Governance and Organisation Standards Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Salariya.

The participants were given briefing on the Supreme Court orders, and the recommendations of the committee constituted by the apex court comprising noted interventional cardiologists of the country. The committee was constituted with the terms of reference (ToRs) of pricing of the stents, registration of the Cath Labs and credentialing of interventional cardiologists. The recommendations of the committee have become part of orders of the Supreme Court of March 20 this year, and are to be implemented accordingly.

Dr Muhammad Ajmal said the orders of the SC would be implemented in letter and spirit, and the PHC would ensure registration and licensing of the Cath Labs besides implementing the guidelines endorsed by the committee.