Mohammad Abuzar
The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) of the government of Pakistan has intensified its enforcement efforts to ensure healthcare compliance, ethical practices, and patient safety in the federal capital. Despite Islamabad being the administrative heart of the nation, the prevalence of unregulated healthcare practices and quackery remains a pressing concern.
🔎 Enforcement Overview
As part of our ongoing operations across all five zones of Islamabad, IHRA’s Enforcement Division has:
🏥 Inspected over 400 Health Care Establishments (HCEs)
🗺️ Geo-mapped all visited outlets for continuous oversight
🔒 Sealed 32 illegal and quackery outlets
⛔ Suspended services at 5 substandard healthcare facilities
📜 Issued 20 legal notices
📝 Registered 10 HCEs on the spot
🕵️♂️ Conducted multiple undercover visits to apprehend violators operating covertly
A recurring trend observed during enforcement is the rapid closure of outlets and internal alert systems among violators — indicating organized networks actively working to evade regulatory action.
⚠️ Ethical & Legal Breaches Identified
Sublicensing and subletting of degrees by licensed doctors — a direct violation of the PMDC Code of Ethics
Registered homeopaths and hakeems practicing allopathy, operating far beyond the scope authorized by their licenses from NCH/NCT
🧬 Public Health Dangers of Quackery
Unqualified practitioners and unethical practices pose a life-threatening risk to public health. Evidence from the field has revealed severe complications resulting from quackery:
💉 Spread of Hepatitis B, C, and HIV/AIDS due to unsafe injections and unsterilized dental instruments
💊 Steroid misuse leading to obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis
🦴 Gangrene, deformities, and disability from poor fracture management
⚔️ Organ damage, internal bleeding, tetanus due to unskilled surgeries
🧠 Nerve damage and paralysis from incorrect injections
🦠 Rising MDR-TB and antibiotic resistance from inappropriate drug use
🚬 Addiction due to unregulated narcotic distribution
⚰️ Multi-organ failure from consumption of toxic kushtas
🧬 Infertility, septicemia, and maternal deaths from unsafe abortion practices
💡 Call for Collective Action
The IHRA is committed to creating a safe, ethical, affordable, and patient-centered healthcare system. However, this mission demands broader institutional and societal cooperation, continued vigilance, and stringent accountability.
As public servants and healthcare regulators, we owe it to our people to ensure that healthcare in the capital reflects the highest standards of integrity, safety, and compassion.
The author is Assistant Director (Enforcement), Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA)