PESHAWAR – Despite having a clear mandate to regulate private healthcare and eliminate medical malpractice, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Healthcare Commission draws mounting criticism for failing to shut down over 22,000 quack doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thousands of these illegal practitioners operate freely in cities like Peshawar.
Official data shows that unqualified and unregistered individuals continue to treat patients without licenses or training. This situation raises serious concerns about public health and deteriorating standards in patient care.
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The government established the Healthcare Commission to oversee private hospitals and clinics. However, critics accuse the body of delaying action and ignoring serious violations. Health department insiders say some commission officials help illegal practitioners reopen clinics after temporary closures, often through financial deals.
A senior provincial health officer said: “We send repeated directives urging the commission to take real action, but they only seal clinics temporarily. Most reopen within days.”
In response, Commission spokesperson Azam Rahman said: “Our teams conduct daily inspections, even on holidays. We penalize non-compliant hospitals and shut down unlicensed facilities. Senior officers now accompany field inspectors to ensure transparency.”
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Rahman added: “We safeguard patient rights. We pursue violators without compromise and coordinate closely with law enforcement.”
Still, medical experts express frustration. A physician and public health advocate, said: “The commission works too slowly. Without reform, quack doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will continue to risk lives with unsafe treatments.”
Public health advocates are urging the provincial government to restructure the commission, introduce independent oversight, and enforce rules without political interference. Critics believe only decisive reforms will stop quack doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from exploiting weak regulation and harming patients.
