With an aim to effectively check the rampant growth of quackery in the province, the Punjab government has decided to carry out a census of healthcare units and pathological laboratories – public and private – operating all across the province.
The census would be carried out in phases by the Punjab Health Care Commission in collaboration with the Urban Unit, said an official source said on Friday.
He said that the first phase would be conducted in five divisions of the province including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Multan. The census teams would register all the setups working in the health sector during this phase.
He said all such units include hospitals, polyclinics, family physicians, dental clinics, dental surgery, pathological laboratories, gynaecology clinics, maternity homes, homeopathic clinics, hakim dispensaries, and physiotherapy and acupuncture clinics, rehabilitation centres for mental diseases or psychological matters and nursing homes.
All these centres will be marked through “Geo Tagging” which has been introduced to pinpoint the exact location and existence of any health related set up. In addition, complaints or suggestions would also be gathered regarding these centres through mobile phones.
The Punjab Health Authorities have sought complete cooperation from the respective administration of such units.
The representatives of the Urban Units have been issued special permission letters, besides identity cards, to perform the task.