Administrative crisis: Capital’s healthcare system being brought under one entity

Seven-member body formed to submit its proposals to PM in 30 days.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to fix the administrative crisis that cropped up in the federal capital’s healthcare system in the wake of the devolution of ministry of health to provinces.

The various health establishments are currently scattered and functioning under the administrative controls of five different federal divisions since the passage of the 18th constitutional amendment six years ago.

The situation has not only created an administrative crisis but also affected the performance of the health sector.

“The dispersal of functions and responsibilities in Islamabad Capital Territory’s (ICT) public healthcare system has created serious issues of service delivery, policy gaps, and accountability”, says a letter issued from the Prime Minister’s office on May 5.

The government has decided to bring all related institutes under a single entity.

A seven-member committee has been constituted under the Cabinet Division secretary to “examine and formulate proposals on reforms in Islamabad’s healthcare system.”

Secretaries of finance, health regulation, interior, law and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) as members of the committee.

The committee has been authorized to conduct a detailed study on the healthcare system in the federal capital.

The committee will form a regulatory mechanism to bring all the various health establishments under the control of a single federal division.

The committee will send its recommendations to the prime minister in 30 days.

It may also provide its recommendations about the 18th amendment. Earlier, a summary sent to the prime minister to bring all education-related departments under one entity was not approved by the chief executive.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2016.