PMA Lahore Raises Alarm Over Rising Quackery Across Punjab

By Farzana Chaudhry, Lahore Pakistan
Lahore: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore has expressed serious concern over the alarming rise of quackery across Punjab, warning that unqualified and untrained individuals are openly practicing medicine, posing a grave threat to human lives.
President PMA Lahore, Prof. Dr. Shahid Malik, stated that many such individuals are working in hospitals during the day as security guards, dispensers, or support staff, and later presenting themselves as qualified doctors in the evening by running private clinics. He termed this practice not only illegal but a serious criminal offense.
Referring to recent media reports, Prof. Malik highlighted shocking incidents where non-medical staff were found administering injections and even drawing blood from patients, exposing a complete failure of regulatory oversight.
The PMA Lahore termed the situation a serious lapse on the part of regulatory authorities, particularly the Punjab Healthcare Commission, and stated that such negligence is unacceptable.
Prof. Malik urged the Government of Punjab to take immediate and indiscriminate action against quacks and illegal clinics. He called for strict monitoring of hospital support staff to prevent unauthorized medical practices, sealing of all illegal setups, and initiation of criminal proceedings against those involved.
He also appealed to the public to seek treatment only from qualified doctors and avoid risking their lives.
Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, he stated that the protection of human life is the foremost responsibility of the state, warning that failure to act decisively against quackery will continue to result in preventable loss of lives.