The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has sealed 832 illegal treatment centres during a sweeping five-week enforcement campaign across 29 districts, targeting unqualified individuals providing medical services to the public.
According to PHC information today, the PHC’s Anti-Quackery Department teams conducted inspections at 2,954 medical facilities from early September through mid-October. The extensive raids resulted in the closure of hundreds of establishments operated by unauthorized practitioners.
The province-wide initiative has also prompted a significant shift towards legitimate healthcare. A substantial number of previously unlawful outlets have transitioned to legal operations, now managed by qualified physicians. This change highlights the commission”s strategy of fostering legitimate medical services alongside its enforcement actions.
Regulatory pressure from the campaign also led 354 backstreet treatment providers to either relocate, voluntarily cease operations, or convert their businesses into other lawful commercial activities.
Furthermore, the commission has placed 1,590 clinics under a strict surveillance protocol. These facilities, where qualified doctors were present during inspections, are being continuously monitored to ensure that certified medical professionals are available during all operating hours.
The enforcement activities spanned the province, with the highest number of closures recorded in the provincial capital. Lahore saw 223 illegal premises shuttered. Other districts with notable enforcement actions included Kasur and Sargodha, each with 64 sealed outlets, and Multan with 45 closures. The drive also shut down 39 centres in Nankana Sahib, 33 in Sheikhupura, and 31 in Khanewal.
Since launching its anti-quackery drive approximately a decade ago, the PHC has conducted around 246,000 visits to treatment centres across Punjab. This sustained effort has led to the permanent closure of more than 63,500 illicit outlets and prompted over 29,350 unqualified practitioners to abandon their unlawful activities.