Islamabad: Not a single private hospital or dispensary in Islamabad holds a valid licence, despite the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) having been in place since 2018, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination was informed on Friday.
The committee expressed grave concern over the unchecked functioning of unlicensed private healthcare facilities in the federal capital and directed immediate and strict action to regulate the private healthcare sector.
Meeting under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, the committee reviewed a wide range of public health, regulatory and governance challenges, with members repeatedly questioning the failure of regulators to protect patients from unchecked pricing, unsafe medical practices and denial of basic rights in private healthcare facilities.
One of the most serious concerns raised during the meeting related to Pakistan’s HIV situation, with officials informing the committee that around 300,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV, of whom 87,000 have been diagnosed and only 34,000 are currently receiving treatment.
Members expressed alarm over reports of HIV-positive newborns, particularly from Sindh and other parts of the country, and questioned whether these reports reflected ground realities or misinformation. The committee directed the Ministry of National Health Services to urgently clarify the matter, conduct random testing, identify hotspots and red zones, and strengthen prevention and awareness efforts nationwide.
Unsafe medical practices were highlighted as a major driver of HIV transmission, especially the reuse of syringes, unnecessary injections and poor infection control in private healthcare settings. The committee recommended discouraging injectable medicines where oral alternatives are available, while the ministry acknowledged that stigma, lack of awareness and unsafe healthcare practices continue to fuel the spread of the virus.
The meeting also discussed concerns surrounding the Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) survey, with several members questioning its credibility and methodology. It was pointed out that the Global Fund–supported survey had raised technical concerns flagged by UNAIDS, while members criticised what they described as desk-based assessments rather than rigorous fieldwork. The health secretary informed the committee that a technical team was reviewing the survey and that a final report would be submitted within 10 days.
On medical education, the committee took up the recurring controversy surrounding MDCAT results, vacant seats and seat-switching, with members disputing official figures regarding available seats. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council informed the committee that a window existed to fill remaining seats for the current session and proposed a 10 percent additional quota to accommodate students from previous years.
Members, however, pressed for a clear and permanent policy, directing PMDC to amend provisions related to MDCAT validity and to take immediate council-level decisions to prevent annual confusion and litigation.
The committee also decided to take up the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Ordinance, 2025 in detail at its next meeting, directing the ministry to submit within three days a comparative analysis of the new ordinance and the previous 2023 Act, along with official notifications of council members. Members stressed the need for expert input and private sector representation to ensure balanced and transparent reforms in the nursing sector.
Strong dissatisfaction was expressed over the performance of IHRA, with members noting that despite years of existence, the authority had failed to finalise a licensing framework or enforce compliance. Concerns were raised over unregulated hospital charges, lack of charity care, detention of patients and even dead bodies over unpaid bills, illegal clinics, unsafe abortions, poor waste management and the over-the-counter sale of medicines without prescriptions. Allegations were also made regarding harassment by inspection teams and conflicts of interest within the authority’s board.
Representatives of major private hospitals, including Shifa International Hospital, Farooq Hospital, Kulsoom Hospital and Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, presented their positions before the committee. Farooq Hospital was appreciated for providing 35 percent welfare care and treating patients under the Sehat Sahulat Programme, while Shifa International Hospital assured compliance with social welfare obligations and was directed to submit detailed welfare data for the past year.
IHRA officials informed the committee that a new chief executive had recently assumed charge, inspection teams had been increased from 12 to 26, a registration board had been constituted, and online licensing would become operational before the next meeting. The committee granted IHRA one month to process all complete licence applications, enforce strict regulatory checks and ensure public display of rate lists at hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies.
It further directed that all private teaching hospitals adopt the Sehat Sahulat Card, lifesaving treatment be prioritised, and denial of emergency care be declared a criminal offence through amendments to the IHRA Act.
The committee also sought a detailed briefing from the ministry on Nipah virus preparedness and cross-border health SOPs, and expressed concern over reports of two deaths linked to monkeypox, directing officials to outline surveillance, prevention 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, along with senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, PMDC, DRAP, the Allied Health Professionals Council, IHRA and representatives of private hospitals.
Ends