directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on safe disposal of medical waste in ICT

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To implement the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on safe disposal of medical waste, Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) organized a meeting of all stakeholders from the federal capital. Presiding the meeting today in the office of IHRA the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IHRA discussed the need for disposing the more than 2200 health facilities in Islamabad. He said that lack of infection control practices and weak disposal mechanisms leads to the present state of high number of infections spreading in Pakistan such as Hepatitis C, and HIV. This situation is also leading to spread of antimicrobial resistance in the country.

The meeting was attended by Director General of Federal Environmental Protection Agency (DG-Pak EPA), District Health Officer (DHO) of Islamabad, representatives from Directorate of Health Services, National Institute of Health (NIH), participants of public and private health establishments, and waste disposal companies operating in Islamabad Capital Territory.

During the meeting, it was discussed that the total number of incinerators installed in the hospitals in Islamabad, their capacity of waste disposal, and the amount of waste produced by these hospitals. Additionally, the waste disposal companies shared information about the capacity of their incinerators and their operations in Islamabad.

The CEO of IHRA emphasized that all the waste disposal companies and the incinerators installed in the Hospitals must be registered with the EPA within 15-days. The CEO also directed public and private HCEs to establish a proper waste disposal system. He also said that IHRA would develop and launch a electronic waste disposal management system which will monitor the whole cycle of waste from production, segregation, collection, storage, transportation and incineration. He also said that both IHRA and EPA would conduct inspections of all health facilities to monitor the waste disposal systems and take action if non compliance of observed.

 

Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority has started the quality assurance Training in dental healthcare establishment

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Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority has started the quality assurance Training in dental healthcare establishments situated in Islamabad capital territory (ICT). This activity is a step forward towards standardization of dental health facilities across ICT. All dental healthcare establishments situated within the territory of ICT are directed to register themselves with IHRA for training & licensing process.

IHRA staff has completed a Basic Resuscitation course

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IHRA staff has completed a Basic Resuscitation course, equipping us with lifesaving skills to respond in case of a medical emergency.We’re proud to prioritize our staff’s training and well-being, ensuring we’re prepared to provide care and support when it matters most.

IHRA raids drive quacks out of capital, qualified doctors open clinics

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Following a series of raids by the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) in the outskirts of Islamabad to curb quackery, trained and qualified healthcare professionals, including doctors and dentists, have started establishing clinics in these areas, officials claimed on Wednesday.

They said quacks, including dispensers and medical technicians posing as doctors and dentists, were “on the run” due to repeated raids by the IHRA teams. To fill the gaps, trained and qualified doctors and dentists are now establishing their clinics in areas such as Rawat, Bara Kaho, and Tarnol, they added.

“We have compelled many quacks to flee Islamabad, and they are now moving to other areas of the country. But, we are informing authorities in other provinces to take action against them. The resulting gap is being filled by trained and qualified healthcare professionals in low-income areas on the outskirts of Islamabad,” said Dr. Quaid Saeed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IHRA, while talking to The News.

Providing details of the latest activities of the anti-quackery teams, Dr. Quaid Saeed said their inspection team sealed a hospital in the Tarnol area of Islamabad after expired injections, broken injection vials, expired blood sample tubes, and expired medicines were found inside the facility. Additionally, there was no waste management system in place, he added.

“Our inspection team sealed the hospital as it was not registered with IHRA. A doctor’s name was mentioned on the prescription pad, but he had no link with the hospital. Used IV drips and expired medicines were found in the hospital, along with many other irregularities,” he said.

The inspection teams found practitioners at various hospitals and clinics in the Tarnol area.

“When the team arrived at Mircha Stop in Tarnol and started inspecting healthcare establishments, health practitioners in the area began receiving calls about our team’s arrival, after which every healthcare establishment in the area was found closed. The inspection team then moved to another area and continued its activity there. When the team sealed one healthcare establishment in the next area at around 8:00 pm, the whole area was found closed,” he informed.

Another IHRA team in the Tarnol area sealed a clinic as it was not registered with IHRA, and a dental technician was involved in making dental fixtures and implants. Used syringes filled with lignocaine injections, dental fixtures, and braces were found.

They also sealed a medical centre as it was being run by a technician, and there was no system of infection prevention and control at the facility.

A dispensary, previously sealed by IHRA and fined Rs50,000 by the 66th hearing committee last year, was again found operational with a quack, practicing as a medical doctor. Used syringes and drips were found in the facility.

Warnings were issued to different medical stores, while qualified practitioners were found at some clinics and medical centres. Several healthcare facilities were closed down as the team reached the area, likely being run by quacks.

Another IHRA team in Sarai Kharboza on GT Road sealed a clinic, which was not registered with IHRA, where a quack was practicing as a physician at the time of inspection.

They also sealed two clinics and a medical centre for not being registered with IHRA and being run by quacks.