Punjab PHC Seals 800 Illegal Clinics in Crackdown 2025

The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has intensified its anti-quackery campaign, sealing 832 illegal clinics operated by unqualified medical practitioners across the province. The large-scale operation reflects PHC’s determination to eliminate unauthorized healthcare setups and safeguard patient safety.

Crackdown on Quackery in Punjab

The PHC has been running consistent anti-quackery drives for years to curb the presence of unlicensed individuals posing as medical professionals. These efforts aim to ensure all medical treatments are conducted by certified practitioners in registered facilities.
To date, the commission has performed over 246,000 inspections, sealing more than 63,500 illegal clinics and pushing 29,350 quacks to voluntarily shut down or regularize operations.

Key Findings from Recent Raids

According to a PHC spokesperson, inspection teams conducted raids in 29 districts over the past five weeks, targeting 2,954 healthcare centres suspected of illegal activity.
Out of these:

• 832 clinics were sealed,

• 1,590 centres placed under monitoring,

• 354 quacks voluntarily shut down or legalized their practices.

Lahore led with 223 closures, making it the top district for enforcement activity.

Expert Insight and Official Statement

A PHC representative reaffirmed the commission’s mission:

“Our goal is to ensure every patient in Punjab receives treatment only from qualified and registered healthcare professionals.”

The official emphasized that quackery poses serious risks to public health, often leading to misdiagnosis, unsafe treatments, and the spread of preventable diseases.

Impact on Public Health and Why It Matters

This crackdown signifies a major step toward improving healthcare standards in Punjab. Eliminating unqualified practitioners not only enhances patient safety but also restores public trust in medical institutions.
The PHC’s actions are expected to encourage more clinics to register officially, ensuring regulation-based medical services province-wide.

Ongoing Monitoring and Legal Action

The commission announced continuous monitoring of 1,590 healthcare centres. Further legal action may follow for repeat offenders.
Authorities are also planning awareness drives to educate citizens about the dangers of seeking treatment from unqualified practitioners.