Lahore: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has intensified its crackdown against quackery, sealing 692 illegal treatment centres across Punjab during a four-week enforcement drive.
According to a PHC spokesperson on Sunday, enforcement teams of the Commission's Anti-Quackery Department conducted 3,014 inspections of healthcare establishments in all districts of the province. Lahore witnessed the highest number of operations, where 1,105 healthcare facilities were inspected, resulting in the sealing of 303 illegal centres being operated by unqualified individuals.
Other districts with notable enforcement activity included Sargodha, where 208 visits led to the sealing of 33 centres; Multan, with 204 visits and 29 closures; Faisalabad, where 154 facilities were inspected and 34 centres sealed; and Khanewal, with 119 visits resulting in 17 closures. Several other districts-including Bahawalnagar, Attock, Chiniot, Gujranwala, Jhang, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Okara, and Nankana Sahib-also recorded multiple closures, reflecting the campaign's extensive reach across both urban and suburban areas.
In addition to the sealed centres, enforcement teams identified 256 premises where previously reported quackery-related operations were either no longer present, had shifted locations, or had been converted to other types of businesses. Furthermore, 1,793 treatment centres found to have qualified medical practitioners on site were placed under continued surveillance to ensure sustained compliance with healthcare regulations.
The spokesperson said this multi-tiered enforcement strategy allows the Commission to target outright quackery while also maintaining continuous oversight of facilities claiming adherence to legal and professional standards.
Highlighting the long-term impact of the campaign, the PHC spokesperson stated that since the launch of the anti-quackery drive, field teams have conducted inspections of more than 251,000 treatment centres across Punjab. As a result, approximately 64,700 illegal healthcare facilities have been permanently shut down, while over 30,200 unqualified practitioners have been forced to abandon their unlawful practices.
The PHC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health by eliminating quackery and ensuring that only qualified and licensed practitioners provide medical services across the province.