LARKANA: The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHC) chairman Dr Minhaj Qidwai on Wednesday said that all private medical centres, clinics, laboratories, homeopathic centres, dental centres, maternity homes etc must be registered and require certificates of licensing which would be renewed on expiry. “SHC has to provide better healthcare facilities to the general public,” he said while he was addressing a seminar organised by the SHC at the officers club. Larkana Division Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Abbas Baloch expressed concerns over poor structure of healthcare units and urged immediate measures to resolve issues of ailing people. He revealed that a stern action would be taken against drug inspectors who were not performing their duties appropriately. “The government allocates billions of rupees annually, which must be utilised honestly for the betterment of the society,” he said adding that government hospitals’ services must be improved. He assured that divisional and district administration would provide full support to SHC for registration of all healthcare units and laboratories. He claimed that a stern action had been taken against quacks; however, those who are still operating would be punished accordingly with the law. He directed assistant commissioners (ACs) to launch a crackdown against quacks and submit a report to him. SHC Licensing and Accreditation Director Dr Farhana Memon revealed that the department has been conducting meetings in every divisional headquarter of the province to spread awareness among the concerned officials. “A form would be given to private clinics, medical stores and other healthcare units. They would need to fill it based on the factual information and submit it, thereby after scrutiny, within a month licensing certificates would be issued to eligible healthcare units and medical stores only. “After issuance of licenses, SHC would monitor their activities,” she said adding that the department aims to provide quality treatment and healthcare facilities to the ailing people. Importantly, she emphasised that under SHC Act 2013, no private centre or organisation is authorised to deliver healthcare services until registration with SHC. Clinics violating the rules would be sealed and they would be penalised with massive fine. She urged the health department to point out such units to halt their ‘illegal’ functioning. Deputy Commissioner Imran Ali, Health Services Director Dr Shamsuddin Soomro and District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Abdul Rahman Baloch also spoke on the occasion. Published in Daily Times, May 17th 2018.