IHRA seals six units for health advisory violations, unhygienic practices

ISLAMABAD: Taking action against healthcare malpractices in the federal capital, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has sealed six healthcare establishments over various violations, officials said on Thursday.

In the past month alone, IHRA conducted 99 inspections across Islamabad, which revealed serious irregularities.

These establishments were found guilty of operating without registration, maintaining unhygienic conditions, lacking proper waste management systems, reusing injectable equipment, selling loose and expired medicines, and employing unqualified staff.

Dr Quaid Saeed, CEO of IHRA, stated that the authority is committed to ensuring high standards in healthcare and will not tolerate any form of malpractice. “During our inspections, we discovered some hakeems practising allopathic medicine without the requisite qualifications and dispensing medicine stored in water bottles without proper labelling or instructions. Such practices endanger patient safety and undermine the credibility of healthcare services,” he said.

In addition to sealing the six establishments, IHRA has suspended the services of twelve other healthcare facilities for various medical non-compliances.

IHRA’s recent inspections led to 50 healthcare establishments receiving notices for minor non-compliance issues and 24 closures, with four being permanently shut down. Four establishments were recommended for registration and suspension revocation, and four were issued warnings. Dr. Quaid Saeed emphasised IHRA’s ongoing crackdown to ensure public health and the integrity of Islamabad’s healthcare sector.