The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has sealed 25 healthcare establishments in Islamabad over the past week due to unsafe medical practices that contributed to the spread of blood-borne infections like Hepatitis B, C, and HIV, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Officials revealed on Thursday that these facilities, mostly run by unqualified individuals or quacks, were found reusing syringes and administering powerful antibiotics without following proper Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols.
According to IHRA, many of these establishments were unregistered and posed serious public health risks. Dr. Quaid Saeed, IHRA’s Chief Executive Officer, voiced concern over the misuse of antibiotics, especially carbapenem—an antibiotic reserved for critical cases—by these quack-run clinics.
He explained that improper use of antibiotics and livestock steroids was accelerating AMR in Pakistan while also spreading infections like Hepatitis and HIV. Dr. Saeed stressed the need to improve the public healthcare system, stating that many people turn to quacks because they cannot afford proper care.
He highlighted the importance of focusing on prevention by improving access to regulated and affordable healthcare, which could save significant costs currently being spent on treating resistant infections. Along with sealing 25 facilities, IHRA also suspended 13 others for non-compliance with regulations and issued notices to 66 establishments for minor violations.
The authority warned that without stronger efforts to shut down unsafe clinics and enforce IPC standards, the spread of dangerous infections and AMR would continue, putting the public at greater risk.
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