KARACHI: Provincial health department is all set to launch Sindh Healthcare Commission, a regulatory authority to register and monitor public and private hospitals and control quackery in the province, next month, Daily Times learnt. As per details available, in first phase the Commission will initiate registration of all healthcare facilities in Karachi South district. The reason behind selection of the district is said to be approximately 2,000 healthcare units including tertiary care hospitals. The district is considered highest number of healthcare facilities in the province. In second phase, Commission will start functioning at Divisional headquarters. Sindh Healthcare Commission Bill was passed by the provincial assembly in February 2014. The Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2013 will apply to healthcare establishments (HCEs’), public or private hospitals, non-profit organizations, charitable hospitals, trust hospitals, semi government and autonomous healthcare organizations. The aim behind setting up the Healthcare Commission is to make provision for the improvement, access, equity, and quality of healthcare services, to ban quackery in all its forms and manifestations and to provide ancillary matters. With the setting up of the healthcare commission, all medical and dental colleges, laboratories, blood banks and other health services providing organisations of the province will have to register with the commission Other task of the commission will be to regulate pharmacies across the province. Unlike Sindh, Healthcare Commissions are successfully functioning in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Published in Daily Times, January 23rd 2018.