25 Clinics Sealed in Islamabad for Unsafe Medical Practices
The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has sealed 25 healthcare facilities in Islamabad over the past week due to unsafe practices that contributed to the spread of blood-borne infections like Hepatitis B, C, and HIV, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
On Thursday, officials reported that many of these clinics, primarily operated by unqualified individuals or quacks, were found reusing syringes and improperly administering powerful antibiotics without adhering to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols.
IHRA noted that many of these establishments were unregistered and posed serious public health risks. Dr. Quaid Saeed, CEO of IHRA, expressed concern over the misuse of antibiotics, particularly carbapenem, which is meant for critical cases, in these clinics.
He highlighted that improper use of antibiotics and livestock steroids is accelerating AMR in Pakistan while spreading infections like Hepatitis and HIV. Dr. Saeed emphasized the urgent need to enhance the public healthcare system, as many individuals resort to quacks due to affordability issues.
He advocated for improved access to regulated and affordable healthcare to prevent infections, which could significantly reduce the costs associated with treating resistant infections. In addition to sealing the 25 facilities, IHRA suspended 13 others for non-compliance and issued notices to 66 establishments for minor violations.
