KP health commission seals 1,465 illegal medical centres in three months

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Healthcare Commission sealed 1,465 medical centres found operating illegally across the province over the last three months, according to its latest performance report, which Dawn cited on Friday.

The report says the commission inspected 6,673 medical facilities in the same period and issued notices seeking explanations to 2,668 centres over a range of violations. The checks work out at roughly 72 inspections a day across the province.

Commission spokesperson Azam Rehman said the closures came alongside steps to improve the registration and licensing of healthcare facilities and to address public complaints against them.

Health regulation passed to the provinces under the 18th Amendment, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa set up the commission to license and monitor private clinics, laboratories, diagnostic centres and small hospitals, and to seal premises found running without a licence.

Dawn published the figures. Ua.News carried the same numbers and credited Dawn.

The account Dawn published did not give a district-wise breakdown of the sealed centres, did not say how many were later allowed to reopen after correcting their paperwork, and did not detail any cases sent to police or the courts. It described the grounds for the 2,668 notices only as "various violations" and did not list them.

Over the three months, the commission issued more notices than it sealed centres: 2,668 against 1,465.

A sealed centre cannot treat patients until the commission allows it to reopen.