SHCC forms squads to tackle quackery

KARACHI: The Chief Executive Officer, Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), Dr Minhaj Qidwai, and the Director Anti-Quackery Directorate, SHCC, Dr Ayaz Mustafa, recently held a meeting with the newly notified focal persons of anti-quackery to deal with the menace of quackery in the Sindh province.

Qidwai and Mustafa also attended a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Health Services (NHS), Dr Zafar Mirza, in Larkana. The Sindh Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Country Head, World Health Organization (WHO), and other international partners and stakeholders were also present on occasion.

The SHCC teams presented and discussed anti-quackery plans and strategies for controlling the outbreak of HIV/AIDS. The Directorate of Anti-Quackery, SHCC, has sealed over 820 Healthcare Establishments (HCEs) across the province during the anti-quackery drive out of which 160 were clinics and labs in Larkana. More than 650 health facilities were sealed from 29^th April to 23^rd May 2019 throughout the province.

The Directorate of Clinical Governance & Training, SHCC, had a meeting with lady health workers and the Supervisor, Vertical Program Coordinator, Dr Shazia Baloch, at the Rural Health Center in Baldia Town, Karachi. The SHCC team conducted an awareness session for lady health workers for infection control, malpractices, misuse of syringes, and injections.

A further plan was also discussed concerning the infection control program with lady health workers.

The Directorate of Licensing & Accreditation, SHCC, has recently received 269 new applications for registration and certificates were issued to 74 HCEs bringing the total number of registration certificates issued to 4726.

The Directorate of Complaints, SHCC, has received 66 complaints till date out of which 38 were disposed of, 24 complaints are under processing, and four are under sub judice.

The SHCC team also conducted an inspection of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) against the complaints received.