ISLAMABAD: In a meeting held at the Parliament House, the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, chaired by Senator Amir Wali Uddin Chishti, discussed pressing issues affecting the healthcare sector. The committee addressed concerns over the dire conditions at the Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad and proposed strategies to alleviate the burden on public health facilities.
Senator Syed Masroor Ahmed highlighted the inadequate state of healthcare services at the Federal Government Services Hospital, urging immediate improvements. He noted that patients are often directed to external pharmacies for medications. In response, the Minister of National Health Services, Mustafa Kamal, acknowledged the strain on the city’s two major hospitals and 30 Basic Health Units, which serve 70% of the population.
Kamal revealed that hospitals designed for 3,000 patients are currently serving up to 30,000, compounded by patients from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa seeking treatment in Islamabad. To address this, he announced plans for a public-private partnership to enhance healthcare services, with work beginning within weeks. Additionally, the establishment of the Jinnah Medical Complex was announced, set to be a significant medical research center.
The committee discussed underutilized hospital buildings from the COVID-19 pandemic and their potential operational use. The Minister assured steps are underway to utilize these resources effectively. Extensions of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences are also nearing completion across Islamabad.
Chairman Chishti proposed the construction of an additional hospital, citing the growing population of approximately 2.6 to 2.7 million and the need for expanded healthcare infrastructure.
Concerns over alleged corruption in the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) were addressed, with the Health Minister criticizing the institution’s mismanagement and lack of reform powers. The committee pledged support for legislative amendments to enhance transparency and efficiency within the PNC.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) regulatory framework for baby milk was also discussed. Amendments to shift regulation to provincial food departments, with DRAP overseeing products for special medical needs, are pending federal approval.
The absence of the Health Services Academy’s Vice Chancellor was noted, with the committee recommending referral to the Privilege Committee to investigate the non-compliance. The Health Minister expressed concern over the Vice Chancellor’s failure to attend without explanation.