New Delhi: Concerned over the possibility of patients getting infected with HIV and viral hepatitis through unsafe medical procedures, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical colleges across the country to tighten injection safety practices, warning that such infections are completely preventable but can occur if basic safety measures are ignored.In a nationwide advisory, the medical education regulator said unsafe injection practices could lead to outbreaks of blood-borne infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and asked institutions to ensure strict compliance with infection prevention and control norms.The Commission has ordered all medical colleges to use only sterile, single-use needles and syringes and strictly prohibit their re-use under any circumstances. It has also directed hospitals to strengthen hand hygiene practices and ensure proper segregation and disposal of injection-related waste.Calling patient safety a “non-negotiable mandate”, the NMC said there should be zero tolerance for practices like re-use of syringes, unsafe vial sharing, recycling of needles and improper disposal of sharps.This advice is important as India administers millions of injections every day in public and private health facilities. Public health experts have long warned that a single lapse in injection safety could expose many patients to potentially life-threatening infections.To further reduce the risks, the NMC has advised medical colleges to gradually adopt safety-engineered auto-disable syringes that cannot be reused. The institutions have also been asked to conduct periodic training and competency assessments for healthcare workers handling injections and other invasive procedures.The regulator has directed hospitals to report any clusters of needle-stick injuries and infections for investigation. Hospital authorities have also been asked to ensure post-exposure prophylaxis for healthcare workers as per National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) guidelines and conduct regular audits through infection-control teams.The advisory underscores the growing concern among health officials that preventable health care-associated infections remain a threat to patient safety and that strict adherence to standard protocols is the most effective defense against the transmission of blood-borne diseases.