PHOTO: FILE
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination met in the Parliament Lodges on Friday with Senator Ateeq Shaikh in the chair.
The committee urged the Attorney General to pursue the case of central admission policy for medical and dental colleges pending with the Supreme Court and urged him to request the apex court to announce its decision at the earliest.
During the meeting, the committee reviewed and passed the Smoking Prohibition in Cinema Houses Bill 2018.
The contention between the health ministry and the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) also came up. CPSP representative Major General (retired) Salman told the committee that CPSP is an autonomous constitutional institution which did not fall under the health ministry nor did it directly report on it
He added that accreditation from the institution was globally recognized and that in this regards Pakistan was ahead of countries like India and Bangladesh. While countries like Saudi have appreciated the institution, doctors accredited from it face discrimination in Dubai.
Maj-Gen Salman said that attempts to contact institutions in the United Arab Emirates had been moot.
At this, the committee’s chairman sought complete details of the matter and promised to take it up with the UAE envoy himself. And if needed, the committee could even visit the UAE.
Meanwhile, the additional secretary of the health ministry complained about CPSP’s performance and how the institution does not provide the ministry timely response. Moreover, he claimed that the rules of business of CPSP and the law it was formed under were not compatible while they do not work per the mandate given by the ministry.
Committee members urged them to work together.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) submitted a report to the committee on the digitisation of all systems.
The committee directed the council to share the tender with the committee before it is finalised.
During the meeting, Senators Dr Ashok Kumar and Dilawar Khan claimed that the health ministry has nominated two people to attend a World Health Organisation (WHO) conference in Geneva who have no connection to the ministry.
At this, the health ministry explained to the committee that the nominated people were specially hired to work on the smoking cell project. After hearing this, the committee sought complete details about the men.
While discussing the matter of the illegal occupation of Quarantine hospital’s land, the committee was told that there was illegal occupation while quarters at the hospital are only provided to those who are eligible. Only those suffering from highly contagious and fatal diseases are treated there.
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain told the committee that the drug regulator had fixed the price of stents based on the orders of the Supreme Court.
He added the stent's prices have increased owing to the recent weakening of the rupee against the dollar. He said that after three months the price of the stent could be adjusted in accordance with the rate of the dollar.
Dr Hussain made it clear that the authority did not increase the stent price but that it had actually issued a notice on the matter.
He said that now price will be labelled on every stent while prices will be displayed in hospitals for public awareness.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2018.
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