LAHORE:The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore has expressed serious concern over the alarming rise of quackery across Punjab, stating that unqualified and untrained individuals are openly practicing medicine, posing a grave threat to human lives.
PMA Lahore, President Prof. Dr. Shahid Malik, stated that many such individuals work in hospitals during the day as guards, dispensers, or support staff, and in the evening they present themselves as doctors and run private clinics, which is not only illegal but a serious criminal act.
He further referred to recent media reports highlighting shocking incidents where non-medical staff were found administering injections and even drawing blood from patients, reflecting a complete failure of regulatory oversight. Dr Shahid urged the Punjab govt to take immediate and indiscriminate action against quacks and illegal clinics, ensure strict monitoring of hospital support staff to prevent unauthorised medical practice, seal all illegal setups, and initiate criminal proceedings against those involved.
He also appealed to the public to seek treatment only from qualified doctors and avoid risking their lives. He emphasised that protection of human life is the foremost responsibility of the state, and failure to act decisively against quackery will continue to result in preventable loss of lives.
Meanwhile, PMA President Prof Shahid Malik has expressed deep concern and sorrow over the tragic death of an innocent child in the provincial capital due to a dog bite. He urged the govt to immediately revoke the Animal Birth Control Policy 2021 and formulate a new, effective policy to control the rapidly increasing population of stray dogs. He stated that until a new policy is introduced, the pre-2021 mechanisms should be reinstated without delay to control the stray dog population and safeguard human lives.
