Committee Demands Eradication Roadmap for HIV, Hepatitis
News Desk
Islamabad: Declaring diabetes, HIV, Hepatitis C, neonatal mortality and malnutrition as national health emergencies, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services directed the government to shift focus from new infrastructure projects to disease prevention, screening and treatment outcomes.
The committee, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, rejected most of the newly proposed projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2025–26, instructing the Ministry to prioritise completion of ongoing and critical schemes to reduce delays, cost escalation and declining performance indicators.
During its review of 33 new projects — including 19 Ministry schemes and 10 Prime Minister’s directives — the committee stressed that measurable reductions in disease burden must take precedence over construction of new buildings and expansion of non-essential infrastructure.
Members expressed serious concern over repeated project revisions, prolonged implementation delays and the inclusion of schemes without full approvals.
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The Ministry was directed not to place projects in PSDP documents unless cleared by CDWP or ECNEC. Prime Minister-announced projects must clearly state dates of announcement and current implementation status to ensure transparency.
Among priority schemes identified for immediate attention were the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, strengthening of Federal Medical College, upgradation of Basic Health Units to ensure 24/7 services, Jinnah Medical Complex, the Mithi (Tharparkar) project, anti-sera laboratory and vaccine facilities, projects at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, and selected rural health upgradations.
These were directed to be placed at the top of the Ministry’s priority list in consultation with the Planning Division.
The committee also voiced dissatisfaction over incomplete briefings, noting lack of clarity on approval status, cost revisions, feasibility assessments and implementation timelines. It directed that future submissions must include full documentation, comparative PSDP allocation charts and justification for any revisions.
On disease control programmes, members raised alarm over reduced allocations for Hepatitis C despite ambitious nationwide screening goals.
The Ministry informed that initial screening would focus on ICT, AJK and GB before expansion. The committee demanded detailed hotspot data, screening targets and chronic patient treatment plans.
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Regarding HIV, the committee was informed that 84,400 patients are currently receiving treatment against an estimated national figure exceeding 300,000. Members called for enhanced funding, updated prevalence surveys and stronger provincial coordination, emphasising the need for a time-bound eradication roadmap.
Pakistan’s rising diabetes burden was also flagged, with members questioning low utilisation and slow implementation of prevention programmes. Accelerated awareness campaigns, screening mechanisms and measurable performance indicators were urged.
Concerns were further raised over regulatory enforcement, quackery and illegal clinics. The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) reported sealing 110 quack clinics in recent operations.
Detailed enforcement reports on clinics, blood banks, laboratories and aesthetic centres were sought. The Drug Regulatory Authority was directed to brief the committee in the next meeting on inspector shortages and compliance gaps.
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The committee also reviewed progress on King Salman Hospital, Bari Imam Community Health Hospital, Border Health Services, digitisation initiatives including “one patient, one ID,” and drug inspection mechanisms.
Concluding the session, both the Chairman and the Ministry commended committee members for their constructive and policy-focused input, noting that active parliamentary oversight has strengthened accountability and strategic direction in the health sector.
The meeting was attended by several MNAs and senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and its attached departments.
