PMA Lahore warns of rising quackery in Punjab, urges immediate action

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore on Tuesday warned of a growing quackery problem in Punjab, saying unqualified and untrained individuals were openly practicing medicine and endangering people's lives.

In a statement, PMA Lahore President Prof Dr Shahid Malik said some non-medical staff working in hospitals as guards, dispensers, and support workers were allegedly posing as doctors and running private clinics after hours.

He cited recent media reports in which non-medical staff were found administering injections and drawing blood from patients, calling it evidence of a serious failure of regulatory oversight.

The association blamed weak enforcement by authorities, particularly the Punjab Healthcare Commission, and urged the provincial government to crack down on quacks, seal illegal clinics, and launch criminal proceedings against those involved.

PMA Lahore also urged the public to seek treatment only from qualified doctors, warning that failure to act against quackery would continue to cost lives.