Govt admits to ousting health minister over poor show

NA informed Pakistan needs to raise spending on health sector

ISLAMABAD: The government has termed the rise in dollar and the previous government responsible for the increase in prices of medicines and admitted to have ousted Minister for Health Amir Kiyani over poor performance.

During the National Assembly session on Friday, presided over by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Nosheen Hamid said, “I wish the previous government had established such a hospital where Nawaz Sharif could be treated.”

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto said, “I have heard that the health minister was removed over hike in prices of medicines.”



PPP’s Shazia Marri demanded sending the medicine price hike matter to the parliamentary committee.

Nosheen replied that the auditor general of Pakistan was investigating the matter. “We should trust our institutions,” she added.

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said, “A parliamentary committee should be set up as parliament is the supreme institution.”

Nosheen said that there was nothing wrong in setting up a parliamentary committee. As the committee would take a decision on the basis of some report, when the “AGP’s report comes in, we will send it” to the committee, she added.

To a question regarding appointment of Dr Zafar Mirza as adviser on national health, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said, “It’s the prime minister’s jurisdiction. Whoever he thinks suitable he can appoint. When you people used to appoint certain people as advisers, did we ask? The medicine price hike is being withdrawn, don’t stress.”

The National Assembly was informed that the global health institutions had suggested spending 4.0 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the health sector instead of the current 0.91 per cent.



On the reason behind the increase in prices of medicines, the assembly was informed that permission was not given for an increase of 1.0 per cent in prices of life-saving medicines. Likewise, the hike in dollar’s value pushed the medicine prices up by 26 per cent and despite all that the former health minister was removed and now the AGP was investigating the matter.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan informed the house that Pakistani inmates in Saudi jails would be released in mid-Ramazan. “Usually, Iran and Saudia Arabia do not release prisoners involved in serious crimes. Despite unavailability of a contract, Iran and Saudia Arabia have agreed to release Pakistanis involved in serious crimes,” he said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Maryam Aurangzeb demanded presenting the details of the dam fund in the assembly.

“The assembly should know how much fund has been collected and till when will be fundraising continue,” she added. “The minister for water resources had said that he wasn’t aware of the dam fund’s transparency.”



The minister of state for parliamentary affairs replied, “The government believes in transparency in all matters, including the dams fund. The water resources minister is abroad. The details will be presented in the assembly after his return.”

MNA Mohsin Dahwar said there were serious concerns that a city in South Waziristan would drown during the Phase-II of the Kurram Tangi Dam.

“The prime minister had assured that the dam would not be built,” said Dahwar.

Minister for Communications Murad Saeed replied that many jirga had been held over the Kurram Tangi Dam. “We are trying to clear the doubts from the minds of the local people. This is a welfare project for Pakistan as well as the tribal areas. The dam will not be built until each and every person is satisfied.”