PHC seals 998 illegal treatment centres in Punjab in six-week crackdown

LAHORE, Apr 05 (APP): The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has sealed 998 illegal treatment centres across Punjab during a targeted enforcement campaign against unqualified and unregistered medical practitioners over the past six weeks.

According to data released by the Anti-Quackery Department of the PHC on Sunday, enforcement teams carried out 3,860 field visits to suspected quack outlets. During the campaign, 2,286 premises were marked for continued surveillance, while 346 centres were found to be shut, relocated or converted into other businesses.

The enforcement activities covered both urban and rural areas. Lahore recorded the highest level of action, with 645 centres visited and 217 sealed. In Faisalabad, 62 outlets were shut down after 239 visits, while in Khanewal, 52 centres were closed out of 155 visits. Other districts also witnessed significant action, including Sheikhupura with 48 closures, Kasur 47, Multan 46, Rawalpindi 39, Gujranwala 37, Bahawalpur 36, Pakpattan and Sargodha 30 each, and Sialkot 33 illegal outlets sealed. Several other districts, including Attock, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Narowal, Okara, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Toba Tek Singh and Vehari, also reported multiple closures and surveillance measures.

Chief Executive Officer PHC Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz said that these actions are part of a sustained strategy to eliminate quackery and protect patients from unsafe and unregulated treatment. He added that premises marked for surveillance will be revisited to ensure that illegal practices do not resume and that only qualified and registered practitioners provide healthcare services.

He emphasized that the Commission is fully committed to safeguarding public health by enforcing regulations and urged citizens to seek treatment only from qualified doctors working at PHC-registered and licensed healthcare facilities. He also encouraged the public to report any suspected cases of quackery.

The CEO reiterated that enforcement operations will continue across the province in coordination with district administrations and health authorities to improve service quality, ensure regulatory compliance and uphold patient safety.

Overall, the Commission has sealed 69,045 illegal centres following 246,529 visits so far, while more than 30,600 quacks have either quit the practice or abandoned their illegal establishments.