Rehab centers under fire: SHCC’s crackdown could change everything in Sindh

KARACHI: In a powerful and deeply concerning development, the Sindh Health Care Commission has issued a sweeping warning to drug rehabilitation centers across Sindh—and the message is impossible to ignore.

This is not just a regulatory notice.
It is a wake-up call for families, patients, and healthcare providers across the province.

A system under scrutiny

In its latest directive, SHCC revealed that a significant number of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers are operating without proper registration, violating legal requirements under the Sindh Health Care Commission Act, 2013, and its Regulations, 2017.

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Under Section 13 of the law, all such facilities are mandated to register with SHCC before offering services. Yet, many have bypassed this fundamental requirement—raising serious concerns about patient safety, ethical practices, and quality of care.

15 days to comply—or face consequences

The Commission has given all rehabilitation centers a strict 15-day deadline to:

• Register their facilities with SHCC
• Clearly define their scope of services
• Ensure availability of qualified and competent staff
• Submit all required documentation

Failure to comply will not go unnoticed.

SHCC has warned of strict enforcement actions, including:

• Sealing of facilities
• Heavy fines
• Registration of FIRs under relevant laws

Disturbing allegations emerge

According to Dr. Ahson Qavi Siddiqi, CEO of SHCC, the situation is more alarming than it appears on the surface.

He disclosed that some unregistered centers are:

• Forcing or pressuring patients into unnecessary admissions
• Charging excessive fees from already distressed families
• Restricting patients from meeting their relatives freely

These revelations raise serious ethical and human rights concerns—especially in a sector meant to support recovery and rehabilitation.

A growing crisis among youth

Beyond regulatory violations, the issue reflects a larger societal challenge.

Dr. Siddiqi highlighted the increasing trend of drug use among youth, urging parents to remain vigilant and actively monitor their children in schools, colleges, and universities.

You may also like to read: SHCC rallies stakeholders to strengthen patient safety, regulatory compliance in province

The warning is clear:
Ignoring early signs of drug use today could lead to addiction tomorrow.

Zero tolerance for unqualified care

The Commission has made it unequivocally clear that:

→ Providing rehabilitation services through unqualified personnel is illegal
→ Such practices are punishable under the SHCC Act and Regulations

This marks a shift toward stricter oversight in a sector where lives—not just services—are at stake.

Public urged to take action

In a rare but crucial move, SHCC has also called on the general public to report any illegal or unregistered drug rehabilitation centers.

This step aims to create a community-driven accountability system, ensuring safer and more transparent healthcare services across Sindh.

The bigger picture

This crackdown is not just about compliance.
It is about protecting vulnerable individuals at their weakest moments.

Because when healthcare systems fail—
It’s not policies that suffer.
It’s people.

And in the case of drug rehabilitation, the cost of failure can be devastating.

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