(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
(By Muhammad Mansoor Mumtaz, Lahore)
The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) sealed 492 illegal treatment centres across the province during November.
As per a media release, enforcement teams from the PHC’s Anti-Quackery Department inspected 2,128 medical facilities during the month. Out of these, 492 centres were found to be operated by individuals lacking requisite medical qualifications, and were hence shut down.
On the other, the regulatory pressure has also prompted a noticeable shift in the healthcare landscape. Another 291 illegal treatment centres either relocated, voluntarily closed operations or started legitimate businesses. A further 1,123 facilities, where qualified physicians were present during raids, have been placed under ongoing surveillance to verify continuous legal compliance.
Overall, Lahore recorded the highest number of 507 field visits, followed by Rawalpindi with 150 and Rahim Yar Khan with 132. Faisalabad recorded 127 visits, while Gujranwala 99 and Sargodha 92. Lahore also accounted for the largest share of enforcement actions, with 139 illegal centres sealed in the provincial capital alone. Other districts with significant closures included Gujranwala 32, Rahim Yar Khan 31, Faisalabad 26, Rawalpindi 24 and Okara 21. Double-digit enforcement sealings were also recorded in Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Sargodha, Bahawalnagar, Mandi Bahauddin, Pakpattan and Narowal, depicting the campaign’s reach across the urban centres and rural areas.
A PHC spokesperson emphasised that the Commission’s sustained enforcement strategy has yielded substantial results since its inception nearly a decade ago. Field teams have now inspected approximately 248,000 treatment centres across all districts of Punjab – an effort that has led to the permanent closure of more than 64,000 illegal facilities. Additionally, over 30,000 unqualified practitioners have abandoned their operations in anticipation of regulatory action.
