Crackdown against Quackery continues...

KARACHI- Chairperson, Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC), Prof. Dr Tipu Sultan announced that the anti-quackery drive is ready to be launched in the South District of Karachi, as survey and mapping of the area has been completed.

Whilst addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, Chairperson, SHCC, Prof. Dr Tipu Sultan stated that this anti-quackery campaign started in the beginning of January 2019, across Sindh by the Anti-Quackery Directorate of SHCC.

He explained that, SHCC has two main mandates have been prepared, one to control this menace, and the other one to improve quality of care through proper process of registration of healthcare establishments.

He also informed that, SHCC has launched a compressive drive against quacks, working in districts of Jacobabad, Tando Allahyar, Mipurkhas, Badin and Tando Muhammad Khan, respectively. This crackdown hasn’t been successful without the assistance of Sindh Health Department, law enforcement agencies and local administration of the respective districts.

Prof. Tipu Sultan revealed that, more than 4500 applications for registration of healthcare establishments were received by their department, out of which 3,493 health facilities have been registered.

Furthermore, he informed that the inspection of issuing provisional license is under process for 40 healthcare establishments including general hospitals, maternity home and rehabilitation centres. So far, training of hospitals as per standards of SHCC has been given to 108 health facilities.

Director, Anti-Quackery Directorate, SHCC, Dr Ayaz Mustafa informed that, the anti-quackery teams have sealed 85 unregistered clinics run by quacks, fining them with penalty of upto Rs.500,000 is being recommended.

He added that strict warning has been issued to 295 other health facilities to get registered from SHCC to avoid legal actions.