LAHORE:The district administration on Wednesday sealed 40 illegal clinics,medical stores and laboratories across Lahore during the last four days as part of an ongoing crackdown on quackery on the directions of Deputy Commissioner(DC),Muhammad Ali Ejaz.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Health Office has issued a list of identified quacks for public awareness,while assistant commissioners,field inspectors of the Punjab Healthcare Commission and drug inspectors have been directed to intensify inspections across the district.
The crackdown has covered Gulberg,Samanabad,Data Ganj Bakhsh, Cantonment and Aziz Bhatti zones, besides Raiwind Road,Kahna Nau,Shahdara, Badami Bagh,Bhati Gate, Karol Main Bazaar and adjoining areas.
The sealed premises include Ali Family Clinic on Bund Road,Tariq Clinic in Naseerabad, Rizvi Clinic in Singhpura, Bismillah Clinic in Lari Adda Colony, Ali Hajveri Clinic and Shahzaib Clinic in Naseerabad and Bund Road, respectively, and Hassan Clinic on Bund Road.
Authorities also sealed Imam Bakhsh Mumtaz Polyclinic on Poonch Road,Life and Care Clinic in Madina Colony, Arham Medical Store on Bund Road, Qadriya Medical Store in Rehmanpura,New Al-Hussaini Medical Store on Bund Road, Abdullah Medical Store on Poonch Road, High Care Lab at Lala Pull and Zeenat Lab in Tajpura.
The DC directed assistant commissioners to conduct surprise inspections and ensure strict monitoring of clinics, medical stores and laboratories operating without the required registration,licenses or qualified staff.
He also ordered that cases be registered with the relevant police stations against quacks operating clinics on the basis of fake degrees or without valid licenses.
DC Muhammad Ali Ejaz urged citizens to avoid seeking treatment from quacks and unregistered medical facilities, warning that operating medical establishments without the required qualifications and licenses was a serious offense.
He said the administration was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against quackery and fake practitioners, adding that action would continue indiscriminately and without pressure.
The DC also appealed to citizens to report the presence of quacks in their neighbourhoods to the district control room so that prompt action could be taken to protect public health.