Last updated on Friday, 12, December, 2025
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Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC): What Clinics and Hospitals Need to Know
The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) is the regulatory authority responsible for improving healthcare quality, safety, and governance across Punjab. Whether you run a clinic, diagnostic center, or hospital, PHC compliance is not optional it is a legal requirement for registration, licensing, and ongoing operations.
This guide breaks down PHC compliance in simple, practical language. It explains how Instacare’s compliance-ready healthcare management software helps clinics and hospitals stay fully aligned with PHC’s Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), documentation rules, and inspection workflows.
Why PHC Matters for Every Healthcare Establishment
PHC was created to:
- License and register all healthcare establishments (HCEs)
- Implement Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS)
- Conduct inspections and enforce corrective actions
- Protect patient safety and improve service quality
Non-compliance can lead to:
- Fines
- Suspension of services
- Shutdown of the healthcare facility
- Legal and reputational damage
For healthcare facilities, compliance is both a legal duty and a business necessity.
PHC Compliance Requirements: What Clinics & Hospitals Must Implement
Below are the core, actionable PHC requirements every HCE must fulfill.
1. Registration & Licensing on the PHC Portal
Every clinic or hospital must register and obtain a PHC license before operations.
PHC requires:
- Ownership documents
- CNICs
- Staff roster
- Staff qualifications + council registrations
- Floor plan + facility layout
- Equipment list
- Fee receipts
Applications are submitted through the PHC e-Portal, and all documents must be kept updated for audits.
2. Implement Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS)
MSDS defines the minimum acceptable standards for:
- General OPD clinics
- Specialist clinics
- Diagnostic labs
- Small, medium, and large hospitals
They cover requirements like:
- Staff qualifications & availability
- Infection control and waste management
- Patient assessment and triage
- Medication safety
- Equipment availability
- Documentation
- Emergency readiness
- Recordkeeping and patient rights
During inspections, PHC evaluates whether MSDS are implemented in practice not just on paper.
3. Staff Credentials, Training & Duty Rosters
PHC requires:
- Verified qualification documents
- Valid registrations with PMC, PNC, or relevant councils
- Duty rosters (signed & dated)
- On-call rosters
- Proof of supervision for junior staff
Everything must be documented and available.
4. Written SOPs for Clinical and Administrative Operations
Every healthcare facility must maintain SOPs for:
- Infection prevention & control
- Waste management
- Medication management
- Patient admission & discharge
- Emergency response
- Consent and patient rights
- Incident reporting
- Medical records
SOPs must be stamped, dated, staff-acknowledged, and periodically reviewed.
5. Medical Records & Patient Rights Protection
PHC requires:
- Structured medical records
- Legible documentation
- Patient confidentiality
- Signed consent forms
- Display of patient rights charter
- Complaint mechanism
Poor documentation is one of the top causes of PHC non-compliance.
6. Infection Control, Waste Management & Biomedical Safety
Facilities must:
- Follow PPE and sterilization protocols
- Use color-coded waste segregation
- Keep contracts with licensed waste handlers
- Maintain sharps disposal SOPs
- Ensure environmental safety standards
7. Equipment Inventory & Maintenance Logs
PHC requires:
- Updated equipment list
- Calibration logs where applicable
- Maintenance records
- Stock logs for consumables
- Secure medication storage
Missing logs is a common reason for inspection failures.
8. Routine Self-Assessments & Inspection Readiness
PHC expects:
- Periodic self-assessment
- Documentation of corrective actions
- Preparedness for scheduled/unannounced inspections
- Updated records at all times
Documentation Checklist PHC Expects During Inspections
- License application & approval
- Fee receipts
- Ownership documents
- Staff qualifications & registrations
- Duty rosters
- SOPs mapped with MSDS
- Equipment inventory
- Maintenance logs
- Infection control plan
- Waste management contract
- Patient record samples
- Consent forms
- Complaint register
Having these organized can prevent major penalties.
Common PHC Compliance Mistakes (and Why Clinics Fail Inspections)
- Missing or outdated staff credentials
- No record of SOPs or staff training
- No equipment maintenance logs
- Paper-only records with no traceability
- Weak incident reporting
- Unorganized documentation
These lead directly to corrective action notices or failed inspections.
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How Instacare’s PHC Compliance Software Helps Clinics & Hospitals Stay Fully Compliant
PHC compliance requires documentation, process control, audit trails, and evidence.
Instacare simplifies each step with digital workflows aligned to PHC requirements.
1. Centralized Licensing & Document Repository
Upload and store:
- CNICs
- Degrees and council registrations
- Equipment certificates
- SOPs
- Waste management contracts
All documents are timestamped and ready for PHC inspectors.
2. MSDS-Aligned Digital Checklists & Self-Assessments
Instacare provides:
- MSDS-based checklists
- Automated reminders
- Non-compliance alerts
- Corrective action logs
Perfect evidence for PHC audits.
3. Staff Credentialing & Duty Roster Management
- Assign staff
- Upload credentials
- Automated expiry alerts
- Digital duty rosters
- On-call schedules
Inspectors can verify everything instantly.
4. SOP Library, Staff Training & Read Receipts
Upload SOPs → Assign staff → Track who read and acknowledged.
Fully auditable compliance trail.
5. Digital EMR & Patient Rights Compliance
- Structured medical records
- Consent forms stored digitally
- Patient rights charter displayed
- Complaint tracking system
Supports PHC’s recordkeeping and patient rights requirements.
6. Incident Reporting & Corrective Action Tracking
- Staff submit digital incident reports
- Supervisors assign root-cause tasks
- Timeline-based closure
- Audit-ready logs
7. Equipment Inventory, Calibration & Maintenance Tracking
Instacare maintains:
- Equipment list
- Serial numbers
- Maintenance logs
- Calibration schedules
Exactly what PHC inspectors check.
8. Exportable PHC Audit Bundle
Generate a ready-made:
- Compliance report
- Evidence bundle
- Logs and checklists
Ideal for inspections or surprise audits.
Practical Action Plan for Clinics & Hospitals
- Download MSDS for your category
- Digitize all staff and equipment documents
- Create a compliance folder (digital + physical)
- Use Instacare to run a self-assessment
- Resolve all red flags before inspections
- Schedule quarterly internal audits
Conclusion
PHC compliance is essential for legal operations, patient safety, and long-term credibility.
Instacare’s compliance-ready software gives clinics and hospitals everything they need to stay aligned with MSDS, prepare for inspections, maintain complete documentation, and avoid penalties.
If you want a practical, PHC-aligned approach to compliance, Instacare provides the digital tools needed to turn regulatory requirements into manageable daily workflows.
FAQs
1. What is PHC and why is it important?
PHC regulates all healthcare establishments in Punjab to ensure patient safety and quality care.
2. What documents are required for PHC licensing?
Ownership proofs, staff credentials, equipment lists, SOPs, waste contracts, and fee receipts.
3. What is MSDS in PHC?
Minimum Service Delivery Standards the standards against which clinics and hospitals are inspected.
4. How does Instacare help with PHC compliance?
By digitizing documentation, checklists, credentials, and audit trails, making compliance easier and faster.
5. What happens if a clinic fails a PHC inspection?
PHC issues corrective actions. Failure to comply may lead to fines or closure.
