KARACHI:
A major health effort in Karachi has revealed a disturbing picture of regulatory failings, with the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) finding that most of the 18 health facilities it inspected were either operating without mandatory registration or lacking essential licenses. The violations, which range from poor infection control to unsafe medical waste practices, have prompted immediate action, including the closure of critical units at a major maternity hospital because of risks to mothers and newborns.
According to the SHCC, inspection teams visited healthcare facilities in the city’s western, southern and eastern districts and examined compliance with registration and licensing requirements, infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, sterilization procedures, biomedical waste disposal, patient safety measures and other regulatory standards.
The inspections covered 18 facilities, including 10 clinics, four hospitals, two maternity homes and two primary health centres.
The commission found that 11 of the 18 facilities were operating without registration, while five registered institutions did not have the mandatory provisional license issued by the SHCC. Only two plants were both registered and in possession of the required preliminary permit.
The SHCC has issued notices to all institutions found in violation, asking them to remedy deficiencies and comply with legal requirements within seven days. It warned that failure to do so would result in further action under the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act.
The most serious violations were reported at a major maternity hospital in Karachi’s southern district, where inspectors identified conditions that pose a risk to mothers and newborns.
As a result, the commission ordered the immediate closure of the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), operating theater and Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) until the deficiencies are addressed.
Overall, the SHCC decided to initiate formal enforcement proceedings against two maternity homes, a hospital and a primary health center for what it described as serious breaches of the law.
Inspectors also identified deficiencies at several facilities in safe disposal of medical waste, handling of used syringes and other biomedical waste, sterilization procedures and infection control practices, describing the deficiencies as a significant public health concern.
An SHCC spokesman said the commission will continue to take arbitrary action against healthcare providers found to be endangering patients’ lives, providing substandard services or violating legal requirements.
“The Commission will not compromise on safe injection practices, effective sterilization, infection prevention and control or proper disposal of medical waste,” the spokesman said.
The commission added that the special inspection campaign would continue across Sindh to ensure that all health institutions adhere to prescribed medical and legal standards and provide safe, quality and accountable health services to the public.
