ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health regulators and medical leaders say unqualified practitioners are operating at vast scale, with the Pakistan Medical Association putting the number of “fake doctors” at more than 600,000 nationwide, a figure the Sindh HealthCare Commission has said aligns with estimates drawn from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The unlicensed clinics are often small roadside operations serving low income communities where formal care is distant, overcrowded, or unaffordable.
In parts of Sindh and other provinces, unlicensed providers commonly present themselves as doctors despite having no legal authorization to practice medicine. Some have diplomas in unrelated fields such as homeopathy or nursing training and cite years of assisting qualified physicians as experience. Patients still seek them out for basic consultations, injections, and drips, drawn by low fees and proximity, even when there is no registration number displayed and no verified credentials.
Unsafe treatment practices are a central public health concern in Pakistan. Medical officials warn that unqualified practitioners may not understand correct dosages, drug interactions, or the consequences of missed diagnoses, and that basic infection control is frequently absent. Doctors and regulators have described reuse of syringes and inadequately cleaned instruments, practices that increase the risk of transmitting blood borne infections, including hepatitis viruses and HIV, particularly in settings where injections are routinely demanded and offered.
The fallout is increasingly visible in major public hospitals. Senior clinicians at large tertiary facilities, including Karachi’s Civil Hospital, have said they regularly receive patients whose conditions deteriorated after improper treatment by unqualified providers, adding to already heavy caseloads. Such cases can arrive late, with complications that require longer admissions, more expensive drugs, and specialized care, pushing additional costs onto households and straining public sector capacity.
Health burden and infection risks
Pakistan already carries a significant hepatitis C burden, which health researchers and international public health literature have linked in part to unsafe medical injections and weak infection control. Peer reviewed studies and regional health analyses have estimated that millions of Pakistanis are living with hepatitis C, and past survey data has placed the country among the highest burden settings globally. In that context, routine reuse of syringes or poor sterilization in informal clinics can amplify transmission risks in the communities least able to absorb them.
Provincial regulators say enforcement has not kept pace with the scale of the problem. The Sindh HealthCare Commission has described limited resources and a cycle in which closures are quickly followed by new outlets opening. Officials have also pointed to weak deterrence, saying cases can be difficult to pursue and that inspection teams may face intimidation and security threats when attempting to seal illegal facilities, especially where operators have local influence.
Punjab’s regulator reports a sustained anti quackery drive, with the Punjab Healthcare Commission’s public reporting indicating tens of thousands of quackery outlets have been sealed over time as part of its enforcement campaign. Sindh’s commission has separately reported large scale sealing activity, including more than 1,500 quackery outlets in 2025, alongside licensing and registration efforts aimed at bringing healthcare establishments into a regulated framework. Despite these actions, complaints from communities and clinicians suggest illegal practice remains widespread.
Accountability gaps and public trust
Health experts say the persistence of unqualified practice reflects deeper accountability gaps in frontline care: uneven distribution of qualified staff, inconsistent oversight of private clinics, and limited public ability to verify credentials. For patients, the immediate choice is often between an informal neighborhood provider and no care at all, a dynamic that allows illegal practice to endure. Regulators and professional bodies say stronger verification systems, safer injection practices, and credible enforcement are essential to reduce preventable harm and restore trust in basic healthcare. – By Content Syndication Services.