Pakistan takes action against quacks

LAHORE -- Health officials in Pakistan are seeking to shut down quacks and the producers of fake medicines.

• Homoeopathic medicines are available for sale at a drug store in Lahore February 28. Pakistan is taking action against quacks and fake medicines. [Amna Nasir Jamal]

"The increasing number of fake homoeopaths in Pakistan have become a source of harm to patients rather than healing them," said Bashir Ahmad, a pharmacist in Lahore.

Most of their drugs are unbranded and loosely packed, with no information on contents or expiration date, he told Central Asia Online. "Patients often suffer from side-effects and related complications."

"Homoeopathic remedies enjoy a unique status in the health marketplace, being the only category of quack products legally marketable as drugs," he said.

Ending medical scams
In Punjab, the government is working to prevent fake doctors from taking advantage of citizens.

"The Punjab Health Department is trying hard to establish a drug information centre for the use of doctors and the public," Ahmad said. "An information centre will allow the patient to check the medicines prescribed."

The Punjab Health Department has compiled a list of so-called "hakims" and "homoeopathic doctors" and has advised the public against visiting them, said Jawad Rafique Malik, the department's secretary.

"We [January 15] analysed the contents of the drugs collected from quacks' clinics and found them filled with opium and steroids," he said. "Most patients visiting these clinics are treated with testosterone and steroids, which do more harm than good."

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) January 15 issued an interim order directing a homoeopathic doctor in Lahore to immediately stop airing his ads on TV.

During that day's hearing, the CCP initiated an inquiry against Dr. Mian Liaquat Ali of Liaquat Hospital Lahore after receiving complaints of his alleged involvement in deceptive marketing practices.

"He made absolute claims in his TV commercials that he could cure diseases like hepatitis A, B and C, diabetes, obesity, dandruff, and vertigo," according to reports. "He guaranteed the birth of a son, and he also offered to treat patients over the phone."

Fakhir Khan, a former client who had believed ads promising he would become taller, voiced his frustration with the service.

"Dr. Liaquat offers a one-month course to increase height and said that I would be three to four inches taller in two months," he told Central Asia Online.

"After one month, there was no increase in height so I contacted him but he told me that my body is weaker than others," he said. "He suggested taking medicines for one more month, but there was no positive outcome."

Practising with fake certificates

About as many as 2.5m quacks could be operating in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

"The number of fake herbal and homoeopathic practitioners is five times higher than that of the qualified doctors," said Prof. Bashir N. Malik, an attorney in Lahore.

Pakistan lacks a law prescribing even minor punishment for these "pedallers of death", he told Central Asia Online. "We in Pakistan need such stiff punishments for such inhuman crimes."

"Enjoying healthcare facilities is the general public's fundamental right under Article 9 of the constitution," he said. "Such rights cannot be denied to the public on account of unauthorized medical practitioners."

 

They are doing nothing to end this quackery. It's just a news for paper

 

right...just doing meetings and pointing out the issues but no practical step to end this