Punjab Fake Doctors Crackdown: 998 Clinics Closed in 6 Weeks
Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has intensified its fight against illegal medical practices. In just six weeks, 998 treatment centres were sealed. Thousands more are under surveillance, while patients are urged to verify care before it becomes dangerous.
Widespread Anti-Quackery Sweep
PHC teams conducted 3,860 field visits to suspected outlets. Officials found 2,286 centres needing continued monitoring. Another 346 centres were already closed, relocated, or converted into other businesses. Lahore emerged as the biggest hotspot, with 645 centres visited and 217 sealed. Faisalabad, Khanewal, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot also reported closures. This shows the scale of unqualified medical practice across Punjab.
Risks of Illegal Clinics
Illegal clinics often lack sterilization standards, emergency preparedness, and qualified prescriptions. Patients may not know they are treated by unregistered individuals until complications arise. Such practices turn routine illnesses into serious health risks. Dr. Muhammad Saqib Aziz, PHC CEO, stressed that all marked centres will be revisited to prevent reopening. Citizens are urged to seek treatment only from licensed healthcare providers.
Protecting Patients and Public Health
PHC’s long-term strategy is already making a difference. Since 246,529 visits, 69,045 illegal centres have been sealed. More than 30,600 quacks have left illegal practice. This crackdown restores trust in safe healthcare and ensures genuine diagnoses and prescriptions. For Punjab’s patients, enforcement is a fight for evidence-based care. Continued vigilance and public awareness remain crucial to ending quackery for good.
