Islamabad: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), Dr. Quaid Saeed has resigned following the establishment of a controversial board to oversee the authority’s affairs.
The board’s composition and alleged activities have sparked serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the erosion of patient safety and regulatory oversight.
Sources close to Dr. Saeed revealed that the inclusion of board members such as Dr. Muhammad Riaz Shahbaz Janjua, Chairman of Hazrat Bari Sarkar Medical and Dental College, and Dr. Naeem Malik, who runs a private medical center in Islamabad, prompted his resignation.
These individuals, both heading private healthcare facilities, allegedly used their positions for personal gain, raising critical ethical questions.
Since joining the board, Dr. Janjua reportedly registered his hospital without paying the prescribed fees, while Dr. Malik followed suit. Staff were allegedly instructed to halt inspections of private healthcare facilities, annual registration fees were waived for specific institutions, and exorbitant sums were billed for attending routine meetings.
A member from Hyderabad Illahi Bux, a homeopath practitioner, also joined the board and regularly traveled to Islamabad for meetings, charging significant fees despite reportedly being well-established financially. The members are said to charge Rs. 25,000 per meeting, adding to the controversy surrounding the board’s practices.
Health ministry insiders claim that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar facilitated Dr. Janjua’s appointment, while Dr. Malik reportedly enjoys support from President Asif Ali Zardari and the Pakistan People’s Party. Such political backing, combined with the alleged misuse of authority, has heightened concerns over compromised governance.
Experts warn that such conflicts of interest could jeopardize patient safety and healthcare quality. Regulatory decisions influenced by personal or institutional interests risk undermining public trust in IHRA and healthcare standards. “When regulatory authorities are controlled by those with vested interests, the impartiality required to protect patients is severely compromised,” one healthcare professional stated.
Dr. Quaid Saeed’s resignation has triggered calls for an independent inquiry into IHRA’s board activities. Observers emphasize the importance of robust checks to ensure healthcare regulations are implemented without bias, ensuring patient safety remains paramount.
Efforts to reach the health ministry for a comment on these allegations were unsuccessful.
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