ISLAMABAD, March 26: Blaming quacks for spreading contagious diseases, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Saturday called for effective lawmaking to eradicate quackery from the country. At a meeting of Anti Quackery Committee of the council, it was observed that the quacks were putting the health of people at stake. Dr Ali Farhan Razi, who chaired the meeting, called for proper legislation to deal with quacks.

Dr Nadeem Akbar, registrar PMDC, said an awareness campaign has been launched against quacks through the council’s website, adding that everybody can verify the authenticity and status of a doctor’s registration. “We have to continue making efforts to discourage quackery,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Prof Mian Rashid, Prof Zubair Khan, Prof Dr Zahir Shah, Prof Dr Muhammad Saeed, and Dr Aziz Tank.

The meeting discussed various ways to create awareness about quackery. It was told that when the issue of quackery first emerged in the US in 1956, groups were formed to reach out to people to inform them about its health hazards.

It was also decided to get the support of the Ministry of Health, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) against quackery.

The doctors decided to write letters to parliamentarians urging them to come up with effective legislation against quackery.