ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination convened at the Parliament House to address several pressing issues, including the recent fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) children’s ward and the regulation of formula milk advertising. Chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, the committee directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against officers responsible for the fire and emphasized the need for strict compliance with breastfeeding promotion messages in formula milk advertising.
According to the Senate of Pakistan, the meeting began with discussions on challenges faced by Balochistan students at the Health Services Academy, which were resolved with the intervention of the Nursing Council and the Higher Education Commission. The committee also examined the compliance of formula milk advertisements with the directive to include the statement “There is no substitute for Mother’s Milk” in both English and Urdu. The committee instructed the Ministry of National Health Services to create a public service message to promote breastfeeding.
Additionally, the committee reviewed “The Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026,” noting the need for effective regulation of private healthcare facilities. Concerns about unpaid stipends for nursing interns at the Federal Government Polyclinic were raised, prompting the committee to demand a resolution.
The committee reiterated its stance on the structure of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree and addressed grievances regarding the recognition of degrees in Microbiology, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry under the Allied Health Professionals Council Act. The Senate Health Committee rejected a proposal for an additional study year for degree holders in these fields.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri expressed concern over the lack of an FIR for the PIMS fire incident, urging direct action by the PIMS administration. The committee questioned the identification process for victims of the fire, directing that an FIR be filed and recommending that responsible officers’ names be placed on the Exit Control List. The committee also critiqued the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for its handling of the MDCAT examination preparations and called for improved coordination with the federal ministry.
The session concluded with plans for a follow-up meeting to review the PMDC’s policy and preparedness for the upcoming MDCAT examination.