KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has released its annual progress report for January to December 2025, outlining regulatory actions and quality-improvement measures undertaken across the province during the year.
According to the report, a total of 283 healthcare establishments were registered in 2025. During the same period, the Commission issued 663 provisional licences and 48 regular licences to public and private healthcare establishments after verification of compliance with provisions of the SHCC Act 2013. Of these, 135 licences were issued to public sector healthcare facilities.
The report states that the SHCC continued its province-wide efforts to curb quackery through enforcement actions and public awareness initiatives. Awareness sessions were organised at the divisional level in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sukkur in December for public and private stakeholders.
These sessions were attended by divisional commissioners, senior superintendents of police, deputy commissioners, district health officers and other government officials.
During the year, SHCC teams carried out 3,251 anti-quackery drives across Sindh, resulting in the sealing of 2,114 illegal outlets. A further 527 outlets were resealed after fulfilling regulatory requirements and compliance conditions.
The Commission also continued capacity-building activities for healthcare providers. During 2025, a total of 623 training sessions were conducted for healthcare establishments on notified standards and regulatory requirements.
The report further notes that the SHCC received 68 complaints during the year. Of these, 54 per cent were resolved, while 31 complaints remain under process.
In response to HIV-affected areas of Karachi and Shaheed Benazirabad, the Commission took strict enforcement action by sealing illegal healthcare establishments and lodging FIRs against individuals involved in running unauthorised facilities.
Commenting on the report, Dr. Ahson Qavi Siddiqi, Chief Executive Officer of the SHCC, said the annual performance of various directorates reflected the Commission’s commitment to improving patient safety and healthcare quality across Sindh. He added that SHCC staff remained committed to transparency, accountability and high standards of healthcare delivery for the benefit of the people of the province.
The report also highlights that the SHCC hosted the third meeting of the Joint Healthcare Regulators Forum during the year. The meeting was attended by MPA Nida Khuhro, the country representative of the World Health Organization, the Federal Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chief executives of provincial healthcare commissions, and representatives of regulatory bodies including PMDC, the National Council of Tibb, the Allied Health Professionals Council of Pakistan, the National Council for Homeopathy and the pharmacy sector.
In addition, the SHCC signed memoranda of understanding with various public and private entities and held coordination meetings with international organisations including WHO, UNICEF and Pathfinder, as well as other government departments, to strengthen healthcare regulation and service quality in Sindh.
