The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has initiated a review of the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for category-IIC hospitals, bringing together healthcare professionals and hospital managers in a consultative meeting aimed at updating and improving these standards to better ensure patient safety and quality care.
The meeting was held at the PHC head office and included clinicians from various specialties such as surgery, obstetrics, and anaesthesia, along with managers from private healthcare establishments. Key officials from PHC, including leaders in clinical governance, training, inspection, and anti-quackery departments, attended the session.
Dr Mushtaq Ahmed, Director of Clinical Governance and Organisational Standards, explained the background of the MSDS, noting that the standards for hospitals with up to 50 beds were established through a comprehensive process including consultation with stakeholders such as the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC), the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), and others. These MSDS were subsequently approved by PHC’s Board of Commissioners and officially notified by the Punjab Government after review.
Attendees were informed that since implementation, over 92 workshops have been held to train nearly 3,000 physicians on category IIC MSDS. The PHC emphasised its role as the guardian of patient rights and urged all healthcare institutions to comply strictly with the updated standards to ensure patient safety.
As part of its policy to maintain high standards, the PHC regularly reviews the MSDS to incorporate best practices and the latest developments in healthcare. In this latest consultative process, stakeholder feedback is being actively sought, both through in-person meetings and an online Google sheet evaluating all 118 performance indicators. According to preliminary responses, 24 indicators were found to be challenging to comply with and were recommended for revision.
Participants expressed gratitude to the PHC for engaging them in the review process and acknowledged the difficulties, particularly regarding documentation and the recruitment of qualified professionals. They highlighted the important role of doctors serving in remote areas, who provide essential healthcare often at minimal cost, and suggested that government bodies such as the Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority and the Environment Protection Department should help facilitate doctors in meeting regulatory requirements.
The PHC and participants agreed on the importance of understanding the standards fully and committed to ongoing communication and feedback to refine the MSDS, ultimately striving for improved healthcare outcomes and safer patient care across the province.
