PHC stops 10 operation theatres from carrying out surgeries

HCEs issue notices for not meeting minimum service delivery standards

LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has stopped 10 operation theatres at different hospitals from carrying out surgeries and issued show-cause notices to five healthcare establishments (HCEs) for not implementing the minimum service delivery standards (MSDS).

Five operations theatres are in Avicenna Hospital, and four were of the Jinnah Hospital, while one operation theatre belonged to Punjab Institute of Cardiology. These operation theatres were stopped from carrying out any kind of surgery.

The respective administrations of these hospitals have been directed to submit laboratory reports to the commission assuring implementation of the standardised measures in these theatres. Moreover, these healthcare establishments have also been served show-cause notices.

On Saturday, the PHC inspection teams examined nine hospitals, and served notices to eight HCEs for their failure in implementing the MSDS. These hospitals included Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Government Said Mitha Hospital, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Rehmatul Alaameen Institute of Cardiology and Bajwa Hospital.

Spokesperson for the Punjab Health Commission, said during the last week the PHC inspected 70 hospitals and 58 HCEs were served show-cause notices for not implementing the MSDS. As many as 85 operation theatres of 18 hospitals were stopped from carryout surgeries.

“The administrations of all these hospitals have been directed to appear before the PHC committee to explain the reasons for not implementing the MSDS. They have also been directed to ensure the MSDS implementation immediately,” he added.

Last week, the PHC suspended all kinds of surgeries at 23 operation theatres of five hospitals and issued show-cause notices to 17 healthcare establishments for violating the provisions of the PHC Act 2010 and not implementing the minimum service delivery standards.

Out of these operation theatres 10 belonged to Ittefaq Hospital, whereas five operation theatres were sealed at Lahore General Hospital, four at Government Teaching Hospital Shahdarah, three operation theaters at Sharif Medical City Hospital and one operation theatre at Life Hospital.

Moreover, the respective administrations of these hospitals have been directed to submit laboratory reports to the commission assuring that standardised measures have been implemented in their theatres. Also, these healthcare establishments have also been served show-cause notices.

During the last two days, the inspection teams of the PHC inspected 28 hospitals, and served show-cause notices on 22 HCEs for their failure to implement the MSDS.

The spokesperson said the administrations of all these hospitals have been directed to appear before the PHC committee to explain the reasons for not implementing the MSDS. “They have been also directed to ensure the MSDS implementation immediately,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2018.