KARACHI: Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) pledged to enforce a complete ban on quackery in the Sindh province in 2024.
In the year 2023, the SHCC Directorate of Anti-Quackery conducted successful operations against ‘Quacks’. From Jan 23 to Dec 23, over 7300 inspections and enforcement (I&E) legal actions were taken, where 2184 quackery outlets were sealed and shut down as per law under SHCC Act 2013.
Moreover, 2159 warning notices were issued to non-compliant healthcare establishments (HCEs), and over 1876 were found to be in compliance with the law. In addition, 1114 follow-up inspections and vigilance visits were conducted to bring more healthcare practitioners (HCPs) under the law.
Key support was sought through the District Government, IG Office, and Health Ministry to further strengthen the scope of “targeted joint operations” and tackle the problem of ‘increased illegal de-sealing” through lodgment of FIRs on repeat offenders to uphold writ of law.
The scope of operations for the Directorate of Anti Quackery grew in the last 2 years with approximately 28000 Inspection and Enforcement (I&E) actions taken despite manpower challenges and a sensitive socio-economic scenario.
Directorate of Anti Quackery worked actively with Deputy Commissioners in major districts of the province, engaging in targeted joint operations to identify ‘quacks’ using authenticated data intelligence, with the support of positive media support, which played a key role in the successful eradication of ‘Quackery ‘ in the province.
“It is a social and ethical duty to ban quackery in the best interest of the general public” stated Director Anti-Quackery Mr. Syed Zeeshan A Shah.
To further improve efficiency and scope of operations, the need to collect accurate taluka-wise data was highlighted as a priority to take more robust Inspection & Enforcement (I&E) actions on ‘rampant’ quackery, eventually cutting down the recurrence of HIV across the division, which is also there due to increased number of ‘ illegal & unchecked health practices’.
More law enforcement collaboration has been committed this year by the government to hold Joint Operations with SHCC through targeted Anti -anti-quackery campaigns on the District level.
