Saba Shaheen

Islamabad: In areas including Golra Station, Tarnol, and Dhok Abbasi, unlicensed quack doctors licensed by IHR have taken over, turning into merchants of death. After an IHR operation, these quack doctors obtained licenses and openly set up pharmacies, distributing counterfeit medicines and endangering lives. Despite repeated warnings, the Health Department remains a silent spectator, and the issue of quack doctors persists. The widespread presence of quack doctors and medical stores selling counterfeit medicines raises serious concerns about the performance of the Health & Care Commission. Citizens have urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad to take action against these quacks.

According to details, in areas such as Golra Station, Tarnol, and Dhok Abbasi, these fake doctors allegedly operate under the patronage of corrupt officials within the Health Department. These so-called doctors, who issue death certificates rather than providing treatment, thrive under the supervision of drug inspectors. Once their clinics are sealed, they are later reissued licenses, exposing the difficulty of finding honest officials in today’s materialistic world. The sale of counterfeit and expired medicines continues unchecked, having devastating and painful effects on patients. Without any degree or diploma, these quacks claim to treat all diseases.

In the federal capital, quacks have turned healthcare into a lucrative business. In Golra Station, Tarnol, Dhok Abbasi, and other areas, unqualified individuals have set up clinics. In Tarnol alone, four untrained practitioners operate with their own medical stores. Shockingly, the name on the clinic’s signboard belongs to a different doctor, while the treatment is carried out by someone else. These quacks not only endanger lives with incorrect treatments but also contribute to the spread of serious diseases.

At some clinics, illegal abortions are performed for amounts ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 rupees. When local journalists have attempted to expose these activities, they have been threatened by these merchants of death, who pressure them and even involve senior journalists through phone calls. According to local sources, some MBBS doctors are backing these quacks.

On one hand, quackery is thriving, and on the other, some private hospitals exploit patients, charging exorbitant fees for even minor treatments. In Golra Station, Tarnol, and Dhok Abbasi, unqualified individuals posing as healers continue to put precious lives at risk. Despite the establishment of the Health Care Commission and other regulatory bodies, funded by billions of rupees from the national treasury, the number of fake doctors, clinics, and pharmacies selling counterfeit medicines is increasing.

Every day, new stories emerge of patients being scammed at these fake clinics. However, while the healthcare sector has seen developments on social media, the ground reality remains dire.