Islamabad: Pakistan’s healthcare regulators came under intense scrutiny on Friday as the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) uncovered sweeping irregularities in private hospitals, postgraduate medical training and employment practices within health institutions.
Chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, the committee session at Parliament House heard a damning report from its Sub-Committee led by Dr. Amjad Ali Khan, which revealed that several private hospitals and laboratories in Islamabad were functioning without valid licenses, indulging in improper waste management and charging patients unregulated fees. Lawmakers expressed alarm that even members of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) board owned private setups, raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns.
The committee ordered the Ministry of NHSR&C to immediately issue show-cause notices to all non-compliant hospitals, strengthen IHRA, and design a robust regulatory framework. It further directed IHRA to categorize healthcare facilities by service level and set standardized charges to protect patients from exploitative billing. A compliance report was demanded for the next meeting.
Members raised sharp questions about the state of Islamabad’s healthcare. Dr. Shazia Sobia Soomro declared that “quality treatment is not available in any hospital in the federal capital,” accusing regulators of negligence. Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz condemned private hospitals as “preying on patients’ bodies like vultures” and called for them to be summoned before the committee.
The committee also spotlighted the plight of postgraduate trainees, particularly at Isra University. It emerged that many FCPS and MCPS candidates were working without stipends, in violation of clear government policy. Appearing via video link, Isra University’s vice chancellor admitted that stipends were sometimes given on “recommendations.” Shocked members warned the institution to provide stipend records for the last three months and commit in writing to pay all trainees, or face suspension of registration. CPSP representatives backed the committee, stressing that unpaid “honorary” training was unacceptable.
Former CPSP officials testified that institutions ignoring stipend directives had previously had their registrations cancelled. CPSP Controller Maj. Gen. (R) Mazhar Ishaq accused some private medical colleges of issuing stipend cheques to appease regulators but forcing trainees to return the money the next day. The committee directed PMDC to cancel registration of all colleges denying stipends.
The session also addressed urgent system-wide issues, including the shortage of emergency drugs such as morphine for cancer patients, poor performance of Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centers in Islamabad, and the need for stronger health ministry coordination during floods.
Employment grievances dominated another part of the meeting. PMDC employees whose contracts expired in June 2023 have yet to receive clarity about their future. The ministry was told to resolve the matter within a week. The committee further demanded an inquiry report into mishandled disciplinary cases and ordered merit-based promotions for employees cleared by FIA.
On the issue of foreign graduates, the committee took up the case of students returning from Kyrgyzstan. PMDC officials disclosed that five Kyrgyz medical universities had been de-listed following objections from the Foreign Office. The committee recommended allowing affected graduates to sit in the National Registration Examination (NRE) but directed PMDC to submit, within three days, a full report on overseas medical institutions recognized since 2020, along with student data and legal clarifications. It warned that non-compliance could result in the ministry being barred from future meetings.
Lawmakers voiced broader frustration over what they called chronic inaction by regulatory bodies. The chair emphasized that recommendations must be implemented “in both letter and spirit” and set strict deadlines for compliance. Legislative agenda, including the Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill 2024, was deferred until the next session.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Shaista Khan, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Dr. Darshan, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Farukh Khan, and Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, while Mr. Shabbir Ali Qureshi joined online. Senior officials from the Ministry of NHSR&C, IHRA, CPSP, PMDC and PIMS also participated.
Dr. Malani closed the session by reaffirming the committee’s commitment to protecting medical professionals’ rights, enforcing accountability in private healthcare, and ensuring that patients receive safe, affordable treatment in Pakistan.
Ends