IHRA seals 25 healthcare facilities for spreading Hepatitis B, C and HIV: officials

ISLAMABAD: Found to be spreading blood-borne infections like Hepatitis B and C, and HIV, and contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by irrationally administering antibiotics without justification, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) teams have sealed 25 healthcare establishments in Islamabad during the last one week, officials said on Thursday.

These facilities, primarily operated by unqualified individuals or quacks, were discovered to be reusing syringes and providing potent antibiotics without adhering to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, IHRA officials revealed.

IHRA reported that many of the establishments that were sealed were unregistered and posed significant public health risks due to their reckless medical practices.

IHRA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Quaid Saeed expressed grave concerns over the situation, stating that the misuse of antibiotics, particularly injectable carbapenem—a last-resort class of antibiotics—was accelerating AMR in Pakistan.

“The quacks were using antibiotics and steroids meant for livestock, contributing not only to the spread of resistant infections but also Hepatitis B, C, and HIV by reusing syringes, unsterilised equipment and unscreened blood transfusions,” Dr. Saeed warned.

He emphasised that while IHRA’s efforts to close down such healthcare establishments were ongoing, the persistence of quackery reflects deeper systemic issues in the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

“People are turning to these cost-effective, albeit dangerous, clinics because the public healthcare system is failing to meet basic needs. Without adequate primary healthcare in the public sector, patients are left with no option but to seek temporary relief from quacks,” he added.

Dr. Saeed also highlighted that prevention efforts—such as ensuring public access to regulated, affordable healthcare—could prevent a large portion of these diseases from spreading, saving billions of rupees that are currently spent on tertiary care and expensive treatments for resistant infections. He called on authorities to prioritise prevention, rather than focusing only on treatment.

In addition to the 25 establishments that were sealed, 13 other facilities were suspended due to non-compliance with medical regulations. Sixty-six healthcare establishments were served notices for minor non-compliances and given directives to meet IHRA’s standards.

IHRA’s inspection revealed that without a robust system to curb quack-run establishments and improve IPC, blood-borne diseases and AMR would continue to rise, with serious public health implications for the future.

The authority reiterated that while clinics might offer low-cost services, their unchecked operations put entire communities at risk, with the burden falling heavily on already strained healthcare resources.