KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) on Thursday directed all health institutions and medical practitioners to immediately register themselves under the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act 2013 or face action enshrined in the law, officials said.

“Action will be taken in accordance with rules and regulations mentioned in the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act 2013 against those remained unregistered,” said chief executive officer of the SHCC Dr Minhaj Qidwai.

He said the commission had begun the process of registration of authentically trained medical practitioners and health institutions.

The SHCC official made it clear that there was no fee for the registration.

“As per Section 14(1) of the Sindh Healthcare Commission, healthcare establishments (HCEs), hospitals, diagnostic centres, medical clinics, nursing homes, maternity homes, dental clinics, homeopathic clinics, tibb clinics, acupuncture, physiotherapy clinics, pharmacies or any other system of the treatment, shall not be used except in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence issued under the Sindh Health Care Commission Act, 2013,” said Dr Qidwai.

He said a mobile app had been designed by the commission which would help distinguish between an authentically qualified medical practitioner and a quack.

He appealed people to help the SHCC in its cause to completely ban the quacks.

“We request the people that they should not risk their lives by visiting quacks for medical check-ups.”

The commission has publicised its email address: www.shcc.org.pk and contact numbers: 021-38656000 and 0800-07422 for the general public to seek for further information.

Formally launched early this year, the SHCC, an autonomous regulatory body to ensure quality healthcare in Sindh, had announced that it had begun its operation from Karachi South for registration of health providers and expand the same to other districts.

It took four years to formally establish the commission after the related law was passed in Feb 2014.

Sindh is much behind Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in establishment of the commission as it was formed six years ago in Punjab and around two years ago in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The officials said the standards for hospital had been notified for the SHCC and the health service providers and hospitals should register with the commission as per its mandate.

They said it was now mandatory for all government and privately-run hospitals, dispensaries, laboratories and other health providers to get them registered. The clinics will also be registered.”

The commission is made up of nine ‘honorary’ commissioners and seven paid directors supported by other staff.

The Sindh Health Care Commission Act, 2013 envisages the establishment of an accreditation and licensing authority to regulate private hospitals, clinics, laboratories, physiotherapy centres, pathologists, nursing homes, maternity homes, diagnostic clinics and other health providers, including hakims, operating in the province.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2018