Lahore: Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) continued its province-wide crackdown against quackery during June, sealing 646 illegal treatment centres across the province. PHC spokesperson said on Sunday, the action followed 2,837 inspections conducted by enforcement teams of the commission’s Anti-Quackery Department at various healthcare establishments. Lahore recorded the highest level of enforcement activity, with 457 visits resulting in the sealing of 142 illegal outlets operating without qualified medical professionals. In Faisalabad, PHC teams conducted 123 visits and sealed 32 illegal centres, while in Sargodha, 165 inspections led to the closure of 17 quack outlets. Significant action was also taken in Rajanpur, where 144 healthcare establishments were inspected and 27 illegal centres sealed. In Kasur, 96 facilities were visited and 43 quack outlets closed, while Gujranwala recorded 101 inspections and 23 sealings. Other districts witnessing notable enforcement included Multan, where 99 visits resulted
in seven closures; Bahawalpur, with 87 visits and 11 sealings; Muzaffargarh, with 85 inspections and 14 closures; Vehari, with 82 visits and 12 sealings; Pakpattan, with 70 visits and 21 sealing; and Sialkot, where 113 inspections led to the sealing of 23 illegal outlets. The anti-quackery drive also extended to semi-urban and rural areas, with districts such as Attock, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot and Jhang recording multiple inspections and closures, reflecting the commission’s commitment to eliminating illegal medical practices across Punjab.
The spokesperson said that, in addition to sealing 646 illegal treatment centres, enforcement teams found 148 premises where quackery-related businesses had either ceased operations, shifted locations or been converted into other businesses following previous actions. Another 1,865 healthcare establishments, where qualified medical practitioners were present during inspections, have been placed under surveillance to ensure continued compliance with legal and professional standards. The PHC spokesperson added that sustained anti-quackery operations have significantly transformed Punjab’s healthcare sector. Since the launch of the campaign, the commission has conducted 252,186 inspections, sealed more than 72,700 illegal outlets, forced nearly 32,000 unqualified practitioners to abandon unsafe practices and placed over 45,500 establishments under surveillance.