Governance Lapses in Private Health Sector Draw Sharp Criticism

News Desk

Islamabad: The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) on Monday expressed serious concerns over regulatory lapses in Pakistan’s private healthcare sector, rising public health threats, and systemic inefficiencies affecting medical education and patient welfare.

Chairing the meeting, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, highlighted alarming statistics, noting that Pakistan has 300,000 reported HIV cases, with only 34,000 patients under treatment.

The Committee raised particular concern over the emergence of HIV-positive newborns in Sindh and other areas, emphasizing the need for random testing, preventive measures, and nationwide awareness campaigns.

Unsafe injection practices, overuse of syringes, and unnecessary administration of injections in private facilities were also flagged as major public health hazards.

The Committee stressed the importance of preventive healthcare, lifestyle medicine, and stronger regulatory oversight to reduce disease burden and overall healthcare costs.

Members also scrutinized medical education policies, questioning the validity of MDCAT results, vacant seats, and seat-switching practices. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) proposed a 10% additional quota to accommodate students from previous years, but the Committee directed PMDC to formulate a permanent policy, amend MDCAT regulations, and resolve recurring administrative issues.

Turning to private healthcare governance, the Committee expressed serious dissatisfaction with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA).

Despite its establishment in 2018, none of the private hospitals and dispensaries in Islamabad held a valid licence, highlighting weak inspections, absent licensing frameworks, unregulated pricing, and failure to enforce social welfare obligations.

Members also raised concerns about patient harassment, illegal clinics, unsafe abortions, and over-the-counter sale of prescription medicines.

Private hospitals, including Shifa International, Farooq Hospital, Kulsoom Hospital, and Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, presented their positions.

Farooq Hospital was commended for providing 35% welfare care and treating patients under the Sehat Sahulat Programme. Shifa International assured compliance with social welfare obligations and was directed to submit detailed welfare data.

The IHRA reported recent improvements, including a new CEO, expanded inspection teams, and a registration board, with online licensing expected before the next meeting.

The Committee gave IHRA one month to process all licensing applications, ensure public display of rate lists, enforce emergency care provisions, and implement the Sehat Sahulat Card in teaching hospitals, warning that failure to provide lifesaving treatment would be treated as a criminal offense under amended legislation.

The Committee also discussed cross-border health concerns, including the NIPA virus and monkeypox, and directed the Ministry to provide updates on preventive, surveillance, and containment measures.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Sabheen Ghoury, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Dr Darshan, Gul Asghar Khan, Aliya Kamran, and Farukh Khan, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of NHSR&C, PMDC, DRAP, AHPC, IHRA, and representatives of private hospitals in Islamabad.

Post Views: 148