KASUR: The infant diagnosed with polio virus in Sheikhupra on Oct 10 was earlier taken to quacks in the district for treatment.
This was stated by Punjab Health Director General Dr Zahid Pervez at the First National Clinic Conference at the TMA Hall here on Friday.
He said as quacks were playing with the lives of people, the government lacked resources to fight them. He said the situation demanded that the government come up with a comprehensive plan to take action against fake clinics.
Mr Pervez added the Punjab Drug Rules of 2007 allowed sealing of a fake clinic that too could be opened after the payment of a nominal fine within days. He said these issues would be addressed in the Health Care Commission Bill which was being discussed with stakeholders before being presented in the Punjab Assembly. Pakistan Medical Academy of Family Physician President Dr Tariq Mahmoodsaid certain clauses of the healthcare commission would create hurdles in the antiquackery war.
Dr Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh, Dr Khalid Mahmood, Dr Kamran Butt, Dr Muhammad Sajid and Dr Abdul Qadoos criticised the commission for its heavy fee structure. They demanded that the government ban the sale of medicine in pharmacies without prescription. On the sideline of the conference, Dr Pervez said that tribal areas were the hub of polio virus where the government lacked reach and advocacy programmes to convince the population about the effectiveness of the vaccine.
DIES: A woman allegedly burnt by her in-laws a few days ago in Jamshed Kalan succumbed to her injuries on Friday in a Lahore hospital.
According to Shamim Bibi, her daughter Shahida was married to Nisar Ahmed 11 years ago. A few weeks back, Ahmed demanded jewellery from Shahida and on her refusal he along with other family members sprinkle d oil on her and burnt her.
