The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) sealed 646 illegal treatment centres across Punjab during June as part of its ongoing province-wide campaign against quackery. According to a PHC press release issued on Sunday, enforcement teams from the commission’s Anti-Quackery Department conducted 2,837 inspections of healthcare establishments during the month.
Highest Enforcement in Lahore
Lahore recorded the highest enforcement activity, with 457 inspections resulting in the sealing of 142 illegal treatment centres operating without qualified healthcare professionals. Faisalabad saw 123 inspections and 32 closures, while Sargodha recorded 165 inspections and 17 sealed outlets.
Operations in Southern and Central Punjab
The PHC also carried out extensive operations in Rajanpur, where 144 healthcare establishments were inspected and 27 illegal centres sealed. In Kasur, 96 facilities were inspected and 43 illegal outlets closed, while Gujranwala recorded 101 inspections and 23 closures. Other districts where enforcement action was taken included Multan, with 99 inspections leading to seven closures; Bahawalpur, with 87 inspections and 11 closures; Muzaffargarh, with 85 inspections and 14 closures; Vehari, with 82 inspections and 12 closures; Pakpattan, with 70 inspections and 21 closures; and Sialkot, where 113 inspections resulted in 23 illegal treatment centres being sealed.
Expansion Beyond Major Cities
The commission said anti-quackery operations also continued in several semi-urban and rural districts, including Attock, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot and Jhang, indicating that enforcement efforts have expanded beyond major cities. Besides sealing 646 illegal treatment centres, PHC teams reported that 148 premises previously linked to quackery were either no longer operating, had shifted to different locations or had been converted into other businesses following earlier enforcement actions.
Surveillance and Compliance
The commission also placed 1,865 healthcare establishments under surveillance after confirming the presence of qualified medical practitioners during inspections to ensure compliance with legal and professional standards. The commission has conducted 252,186 inspections since launching its anti-quackery campaign, sealed more than 72,700 illegal treatment centres, compelled approximately 32,000 unqualified practitioners to cease operations and placed over 45,500 healthcare establishments under continued surveillance.
