Dr Faisal addresses concerns over MTI bill

Senate committee told reservations to be taken into consideration

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Thursday discussed the Federal Medical Teaching Institutes Bill, 2021. The committee meeting, which was chaired by Dr Muhammad Humayun Mohmand, also discussed the National Institute of Health (Re-organisation) Bill, 2021.

Both bills were referred by the house in its sitting held on June 18. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan assured the committee that all reservations over the MTI bill of the committee members will be addressed.

He stated that on the directions of the Supreme Court, membership of MTI board was not offered to any parliamentarian. The committee chairman maintained that efforts should be made to stop corrupt practices in the health sector to ensure better medical services to citizens.

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Health Secretary Aamir Ashraf Khawaja informed the committee that a model is being introduced to run the affairs of hospitals and to address all concerning issues related with the hospitals. He added that besides protecting pensions, there are several other incentives for employees under this bill.

He assured that there is complete job security to hospital employees under this bill, maintaining that there will be choice for the employees to adopt whichever system they want.

He expressed the hope that things will improve in hospitals and people will get better services.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2021.