HIV Data Missing, Nursing Council Faces Scrutiny
News Desk
Islamabad: The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) has raised serious concerns over multiple deficiencies in Pakistan’s health sector, highlighting alarming gaps in HIV data, potential irregularities in the newly constituted Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council, and inadequate preparedness on Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects.
Chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, the Committee examined the Ministry of Health’s reports on regulatory and policy matters, expressing dissatisfaction over incomplete and inconsistent documentation.
HIV Data Deficiencies Raise Alarms
While reviewing the national HIV situation, members noted major gaps in the Ministry’s submissions. Provincial data from Balochistan was missing, and crucial details, such as treatment progress for 31 patients at Nishtar Hospital and 669 cases in District Sargodha, were absent.
The Committee highlighted that approximately 350,000 HIV patients had been reported from Sindh and Punjab, reflecting a 75 percent increase. Between 2018–19, 20,000 new cases were recorded, while 9,700 cases emerged in the first nine months of 2024.
The Ministry reported that USD 300–500 per patient was being spent annually under the National AIDS Programme, but this was not clearly documented in the reports shared with the Committee.
Although 24,000 patients were registered for treatment in 2019, only 84,000 individuals are currently under treatment, raising questions about follow-up and monitoring mechanisms.
The Minister for Health defended the figures, citing the expansion of testing centres from 24 to 127, which contributed to increased case detection.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/hiv-aids-epidemic-in-pakistan-stigma-major-barrier-to-effective-response/
However, the Committee emphasized that multiple requested details, including causal factors and provincial data, remained inadequately addressed. Members demanded a consolidated progress report covering all initiatives undertaken by the Ministry during this period.
Nursing Council Controversy
Deliberations on the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (Ordinance No. IX of 2025) revealed concerns over the qualifications of council members. According to Committee sources, certain members from Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan held fake degrees and did not meet required qualifications.
While the Minister claimed “the war is still on” regarding oversight and enforcement, the Committee requested documentary evidence and deferred discussion to the next in-camera meeting.
PSDP Preparedness Under Scrutiny
The Committee also expressed alarm over the Ministry’s lack of preparedness in implementing ongoing PSDP schemes. Members described the situation as “alarming” and called for detailed briefings and operational documentation from the Ministry and relevant authorities in the next session.
Committee members raised issues regarding outdated information sharing, poor reporting, and weak enforcement by healthcare authorities, including the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority.
The Ministry acknowledged that certain matters required time and further review but was urged to ensure comprehensive documentation and factual ground assessments in future submissions.
The meeting was attended by members Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Farah Naz Akbar, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Aliya Kamran, Dr. Darshan, Sabheen Ghoury, Dr. Shaista Khan, along with the Minister for Health, officials, and stakeholders from the Ministry and attached departments.
