SHCC conducted 1st online COVID-19 training sessions for healthcare establishments

KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission conducted its first online training session on COVID-19 in collaboration with the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP).

150 participants from 7 to 8 healthcare establishments participated in the training. They were trained on the triaging of the COVID-19 Patients, donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), disinfection, general and specific precautions for healthcare providers, treatment of COVID-19, and sample collection.

Meanwhile, the team inspected the Darul Sehat Hospital to see their capacity to arrange an isolation center for COVID-19. The team suggested that a 25-bed facility can be arranged at the hospital.

The SHCC inspected the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Hyderabad Lab. The team met with the Medical Superintendent of LUMHS, Dr Mazhar, Dean, HOD, Lab, Dr Iqram Ullah, AMS, Dr Waqas, and ICU consultant, Dr Nadeem. The LUMHS team briefed that they are the central focal point of all districts as they have 20 branches in all districts. They are receiving COVID-19 samples from all collection points and are performing COVID-19 PCR at the LUMHS Hyderabad Lab, they added.

They are doing around 100 tests on a daily basis free of cost and are following the guidelines provided by the National Institute of Health (NIH). All samples are transported via ambulances with maintained cold chain. They have designated a separate portion for COVID-19 PCR sampling. The LUMHS has 100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 600 tests available in stock at the lab. They are following the donning and doffing procedure for waste disposal. The waste is shifted to the Jamshoro incinerator area for proper disposal, they added.

The SHCC team visited the drive-through facility of the Hashmani Hospital located at Tariq Road in a vacant plot. The inspection team met with the CEO, Mr Arslan. Mr Arslan briefed the SHCC’s team about the functioning of the drive-through facility, where the whole scope of work was split into two parts.

First, the Hashmani Lab provides the services through an appointment system and walk-in suspected patients. The appointment is given on call against a specific registration number. The second part of the drive-through facility is related to Advance Lab, where they perform the COVID-19 PCR. The test report is sent to the Hashmani lab. The Hashmani Lab will inaugurate the drive-through facility following the approval of the SHCC.

The Directorate of Complaint has received a total of 130 complaints, out of which 90 complaints have been disposed of, 30 complaints are under process, while 4 are sub-judice. While the Directorate, through the PMDU portal, received 846 complaints out of which 322 complaints have been resolved, 18 are in process, 456 have been dropped, and 50 complaints have been forwarded.

The teams of the Directorate of Anti-Quackery and the Directorate of Licensing and Accreditation visited various districts of Sindh, including District Sanghar, Tando Adam, District Qambar Shahdadkot, Taluka Nasirabad of Division Larkana, District Jamshoro, District Dadu, Mirpur Mathelo, Sukkur, and District Central of Karachi. They inspected pathological labs, diagnostic centers, collection points, GP clinics, and medical centers. The team visited 148 clinics, labs, and diagnostic centers this week.

A total of 3498 healthcare establishments (HCEs) were sealed in Sindh. 54 warnings were issued to clinics for non-compliance. A total of 1308 warnings have been issued to clinics for non-compliance to date.

The Directorate of Licensing and Accreditation, SHCC, issued letters to more than 600 HCEs for an advisory regarding COVID-19. The Directorate issued 470 letters to HCEs in Sindh regarding the reservation of 10% of beds for isolation and 10% beds for ICU to manage the inflow of COVID-19 patients. The Directorate sent letters to hospitals and labs performing coronavirus testing as well. The inspection team also visited the Dow Ojha Campus and SIUT Lab to inspect the COVID-19 testing facility.

The Directorate of Licensing and Accreditation, SHCC, has received a total of 10,800 applications for registration to date. Registration certificates have been issued to 9509 HCEs to date.

-MN Report