PMA Strongly Condemns Heavy Fines Imposed on Qualified MBBS Doctors

By Farzana Chaudhry, Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Professor Shahid Malik, President of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), has strongly condemned the imposition of heavy fines ranging from Rs300,000 to Rs400,000 on qualified MBBS doctors by the Punjab Healthcare Commission, describing the penalties as unjust, disproportionate, and deeply concerning for the medical community.
He said that imposing fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees for minor administrative shortcomings—such as the absence of a washroom door in a clinic, inadequate signage, non-availability of certain registers, or deficiencies in specific indicators—is neither fair nor reasonable. Such actions, he added, discourage qualified doctors and may ultimately affect the public’s access to quality healthcare services.
Professor Shahid Malik noted that quacks continue to operate openly across Punjab. Even when action is taken against them by the Punjab Healthcare Commission, many evade penalties by shutting down one outlet and reopening their illegal practice in another area. He regretted that the Commission has so far failed to ensure effective legal prosecution and meaningful punishment of such illegal practitioners.
He emphasized that the Commission’s primary mandate is to eliminate quackery and protect the public from unqualified healthcare providers. However, he said, the Commission appears to have made limited progress in fulfilling this responsibility, while qualified MBBS doctors are being subjected to heavy fines for minor administrative deficiencies.
The PMA president urged the Chairman of the Punjab Healthcare Commission to immediately review the policy of imposing what he termed disproportionate penalties. He demanded that qualified doctors be issued warnings and given reasonable time to rectify minor deficiencies before facing financial penalties.
He further called on the Commission to focus on the effective eradication of quackery, the permanent closure of illegal clinics, and strict legal action against individuals operating without valid medical qualifications. He also demanded accountability for any officials who, instead of facilitating compliance and improvement, are allegedly using heavy penalties on qualified doctors as a means of revenue generation.
Professor Shahid Malik said the Pakistan Medical Association would continue to raise its voice through all legal and democratic forums for the protection of qualified doctors’ rights and to ensure safe, ethical, and quality healthcare for the public.