PHC closed down 5,615 outlets of quacks in 2019

LAHORE: Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) inspected 17,727 treatment centres in 2019 and closed down 5,615 outlets of quacks.

Since its inception, the PHC has sealed 23, 504 treatment centres run by unqualified persons, said a spokesperson for the PHC. The PHC’s enforcement teams have inspected 60,000 treatment centres. As many as 9,884 outlets were closed down in the Lahore division, 5,441 in Faisalabad, 4,025 in Gujranwala, 3,838 in Sahiwal and 3,452 in Multan division.

The Commission’s hearing committees imposed Rs478.30 million fine on the quacks. The PHC has so far registered over 59,000 healthcare establishments.

The Commission had arranged 639 capacity-building workshops to improve treatment facilities. As many as 25,500 health professionals of around 21,000 healthcare centres were trained on the minimum service delivery standards (MSDS). “In order to ensure implementation of the MSDS, the Commission has carried out more than 22,000 inspections of 16,575 healthcare centres so far,” said the PHC spokesperson.