Quackery is a crime, sin, injustice, and menace which is ever-increasing in our society. It is an immense threat to those persons who are directly or indirectly concerned with the medical profession. No one is paying heed to this problem.
In major cities like Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, one can easily observe various clinics run by dispensers, OT technicians, ward boys and sanitary workers. The government is expanding a major chunk of budget in opening medical colleges and giving training to doctors but these untrained practitioners are causing problems.
More conspicuously, these quacks are using names of well-known doctors on their boards by paying them money. They also use the same syringe many times over. This is surely the cause of spreading many diseases including AIDS, hepatitis and other potentially lethal infectious diseases. These criminals are also habitual of doing minor surgeries which can cause some real problems, and may end in the death of the patients. They charge lower fee. This makes them easily accessible to the countrys middle class and lower class. They are lining their pockets by playing with the health of the poor people. They frequently use steroids and antibiotics which in the long run can damage bones, immune system, kidneys and liver.
The PMDC and government have to come forward and do something in this regard. Otherwise, the poor strata of our society will fall prey to these quacks and suffer a lot.
DR IRFAN ALMANI
Rawalpindi
