SHCC rallies stakeholders to strengthen patient safety, regulatory compliance in province

SHCC brings key stakeholders together to strengthen patient safety and healthcare compliance across Sindh

KARACHI: In a major step toward strengthening healthcare governance in province, the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has conducted a series of stakeholder awareness sessions across the Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sukkur divisions, aiming to secure stronger administrative and law-enforcement support for effective regulatory enforcement.

The sessions brought together senior officials from divisional and district administrations, the health department, police and other law-enforcement agencies to build a shared understanding of healthcare regulation, patient safety, and institutional accountability. The initiative reflects SHCC’s growing emphasis on collaborative regulation rather than isolated enforcement.

Building coordination for safer healthcare

According to SHCC officials, the sessions were designed to promote coordinated action among key state institutions responsible for healthcare oversight. Participants discussed practical challenges faced during field inspections, enforcement operations, and complaint handling, with a focus on ensuring consistency, fairness, and due process.

Addressing the participants, Dr Ahson Qavi Siddiqi, Chief Executive Officer SHCC, highlighted that the Commission’s mandate goes beyond punitive regulation.

“SHCC exists to protect patients’ rights, but equally, it is responsible for safeguarding the rights and professional dignity of doctors and the wider medical community,” he said.

Call for due process in negligence cases

Dr Siddiqi emphasized the importance of avoiding premature legal action in cases of alleged medical negligence or malpractice. He urged administrative and law-enforcement authorities not to lodge FIRs or arrest healthcare professionals until SHCC has completed its technical and professional evaluation of the complaint.

He noted that medical cases often require expert assessment and context-specific understanding, and that hasty criminal proceedings can undermine trust, disrupt healthcare delivery, and discourage professionals from working in high-risk environments.

High-level participation underscores seriousness

The sessions were attended by senior officials including Fayyaz Ahmed Abbasi, Commissioner Hyderabad; Faisal Uqaeli, Commissioner Mirpurkhas; and Shahmeer Khan Bhutto, Commissioner Shaheed Benazirabad.

Also present were Dr Zubair Soomro, Director AQ SHCC, Dr G Yaseen, Director HR & Admin SHCC, along with Deputy and Assistant Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police, District Health Officers (DHOs), representatives of PPHI, the Social Welfare Department, rescue services, and other relevant stakeholders.

Aligned with Sindh government’s health vision

SHCC officials stated that these stakeholder engagement sessions are part of the Commission’s annual strategic plan and are being carried out in line with directives from the Sindh Minister of Health to accelerate regional coordination and strengthen regulatory outcomes.

By fostering dialogue between regulators, administrators, police and healthcare providers, SHCC aims to improve compliance, enhance patient safety, and ensure that enforcement actions remain lawful, evidence-based and professionally grounded.

Health policy observers see the initiative as a critical step toward reducing conflict between regulators and service providers, while reinforcing public confidence in Sindh’s healthcare oversight framework.

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