Islamabad: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has ordered a comprehensive review of the Islamabad Health Regulatory Authority (IHRA) law and directed the Ministry of National Health Services to prepare a new legal framework after the IHRA Board of Governors refused to allow Dr Zaeem Zia to assume the acting charge of the authority’s chief executive officer for a third time.
According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, the minister directed Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri to thoroughly examine the existing IHRA law, identify its shortcomings and practical hurdles, and propose a comprehensive new legal framework, either through fresh legislation or an ordinance.
The minister said the objective was to align the law with modern regulatory requirements, strengthen oversight of public and private healthcare institutions, improve governance, remove regulatory gaps and ensure better protection of patients’ rights.
The directive came a day after the IHRA Board of Governors declined to implement the ministry’s notification assigning Dr Zaeem Zia, Director Medical (BS-19), the additional charge of IHRA Chief Executive Officer.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the board had unanimously decided in its meeting on July 27 that Dr Zaeem Zia would not be allowed to hold the additional charge for a third consecutive time, maintaining that the Establishment Division’s rules do not permit more than two consecutive additional charge arrangements.
The board also decided to assign the look-after charge of the office to Deputy Director Dr Rutaba.
Officials said Dr Zaeem Zia reached the IHRA office on Tuesday to assume charge under the ministry’s notification but was not allowed by the board to take over the office.
The developments have brought into the open differences between the ministry and the autonomous regulator over the interpretation of service rules and administrative authority, while the appointment of a regular IHRA chief executive remains pending.
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