Cracks in care: healthcentres fail SHCC inspections

NICU, OT, CSSD shut at maternity hospital after lapses

KARACHI:

A major healthcare crackdown in Karachi has uncovered a disturbing picture of regulatory failures, with the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) finding that most of the 18 inspected health facilities were either operating without mandatory registration or lacked essential licences. The violations, ranging from poor infection control to unsafe medical waste practices, have triggered immediate action, including the closure of critical units at a major maternity hospital over risks posed to mothers and newborns.

According to the SHCC, inspection teams visited health facilities in the city's West, South and East districts, examining compliance with registration and licensing requirements, infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, sterilisation 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 healthcare centres.

The commission found that 11 of the 18 facilities were operating without registration, while five registered institutions did not possess the mandatory provisional licence issued by the SHCC. Only two facilities were found to be both registered and in possession of the required provisional licence.

The SHCC has issued notices to all institutions found in violation, directing them to rectify 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 South district, where inspectors identified conditions that posed risks to mothers and newborns.

As a result, the commission ordered immediate closure of the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), operating theatre and Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) until deficiencies are addressed.

Overall, the SHCC decided to initiate formal enforcement proceedings against two maternity homes, one hospital and one primary healthcare centre over what it described as serious regulatory breaches.

Inspectors also identified shortcomings at several facilities in the safe disposal of medical waste, handling of used syringes and other biomedical waste, sterilisation procedures and infection control practices, describing the deficiencies as a significant public health concern.

An SHCC spokesperson said the commission would continue taking indiscriminate action against healthcare providers found endangering patients' lives, delivering substandard services or violating regulatory requirements.

"The commission will not compromise on safe injection practices, effective sterilisation, infection prevention and control, or the proper disposal of medical waste," the spokesperson said.

The commission added that the special inspection campaign would continue across Sindh to ensure that all healthcare institutions comply with prescribed medical and legal standards and provide safe, quality and accountable healthcare services to the public.