Nangarhar authorities crack down on quacks after complaints

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The authorities have launched a crackdown against non-registered medical practitioners or quacks in eastern Nangarhar province, closing their clinics and health centers following people’s complaints.

Nangarhar residents also complain quacks and unlicensed health centers have been operating in Jalalabad city and districts, endangering people’s lives.

But health officials say a committee has been formed to crack down quacks and illegal health centers and so far many such facilities have been closed and unethical practices stopped.

Ulfatullah, a resident of Shinwari district, told Pajhwok that non-professional and untrained doctors were operating in the city and districts due to the negligence of the Public Health Department.

He said many quacks had established clinics on their own without having licenses.  “They are not trained or educated in the medical field and cause harm to people instead of benefit. The government should stop their activities.”

Several other residents asked the government to increase vigilance on pharmacies and private health centers in the city and districts to prevent low quality medicines from being sold.

Gul Mohammad, a resident of Jalalabad city, said the prices of medicines had increased manifold compared to the past and poor patients were unable to purchase them.

He added: “Both in the city and villages, expired medicines are sold to people. The government should prevent the sale of expired and low quality medicines that can harm people’s health.”

Nangarhar public health officials also confirm quacks and unlicensed pharmacies and health centers are operating in some areas of the province.

Public health director Dr. Muhammad Rahim Qalandari said a special commission had been tasked with solving the quackery issue. The commission has so far closed many health centers in the city and districts for operating illegally.

Without giving exact figures, he said dozens of health centers, clinics, pharmacies and labs that lacked legal licenses and documents were closed every month.

He said the crackdown had solved the quackery issue to some extent and the commission was working to completely address the issue and address people’s complaints.

Increasing population and lack of public sector health facilities are the reasons people visit private health clinics where untrained medical practitioners examine them.

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