LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has sealed 53 clinics of quacks in two districts and initiated further proceedings against them.

A spokesperson said here on Thursday that of the 71 healthcare establishments raided in Rajanpur and Jampur tehsils, 44 were allowed to function since these were registered with the PHC while remaining 27 were sealed for being quacks. The sealed treatment centres included 14 [unregistered] general practitioners (GPs), six dentists, five medical stores and one each laboratory and x-ray centre.

In Dera Ghazi Khan and Taunsa Sharif tehsils, of the 55 treatment centres raided, 29 were allowed to continue operating for being registered with the PHC while 26 were closed down for practising illegally, including 10 GPs, five dentists, three each homeopaths and medical stores besides one each laboratory, hakeem and maternity home.

The spokesperson said the sealed centres were unlawfully working as dental clinics, laboratories and allopathic clinics but were unqualified to render any kind of medical services.

MEDICAL ADMISSIONS: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Thursday completed the process to receive applications for admission to 34 private medical and dental colleges in Punjab under the centralised admission policy.

As many as 8,244 applications were received for 2,700 MBBS and 625 BDS seats in 23 medical and 11 dental colleges in the private sector, said a spokesperson.

Applications for admission to private medical and dental colleges were received at the UHS, Lahore, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, and Nishtar Medical University, Multan, from Nov 18 to Nov 30.

The spokesperson said in accordance with the weightage formula of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), candidates securing less than 89.0364 per cent marks would be eligible for admission to MBBS and those with 88.9273pc for BDS in private institutions.

Regarding fee structure, the spokesperson said under PMDC regulations 2016, no private medical or dental college could charge in respect of training for MBBS or BDS fee and charges more than Rs642,000 (annual tuition fee per student excluding university examination fee, taxes, hostel or transport fees), one-time admission fee of Rs50,000, besides Rs3,000 prospectus fee.

Under PMDC regulation 12 (4), all private medical and dental colleges would receive all fees and charges from students, their parents or guardians through a separate online account in a scheduled bank. The account number must be mentioned in prospectus and website of the private institution with fee and charges structure. No private institution is allowed to demand cash from students on account of any fee or charges under the PMDC rules, said the spokesperson.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2017