Senate body rejects Pakistan Psychology Council bill

Standing Committee on Health discusses seeking financial support from rich parliamentarians to purchase MRI machines

ISLAMABAD:

Senate Standing Committee on Health has rejected the Pakistan Psychology Council Bill, 2021, while postponing Prime University of Nursing Science and Technology Islamabad Bill, 2021.

A meeting of the standing committee was held under the chairmanship of Humayun Mohmand on Thursday, wherein the Ministry of Health officials said that four MRI machines are being procured and they will only opt for European, Japanese and American machines.

The meeting also discussed the issue of seats of medical colleges in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan. Officials of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) informed the committee that 265 seats have been alloted for students in the medical colleges of both areas.

Also during the meeting, Senator Zarqa Teymour, a member of the Committee on Aesthetic Practitioners, questioned the authorities on the notice issued by the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) to 22 doctors.

PMC officials said that there were 11 people, out of which three had degrees, one was a technician, and the remaining seven had certificates and diplomas. They added that while the PMC did not impose penalty on anyone, it is developing new laws and guidelines.

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They noted that aesthetic physicians had applied for registration with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), and as aesthetics is a new field, they would have to make new rules for training. They also noted that there are no regulations regarding this anywhere in the world.

The chairman of the committee directed the commission to respond within two to three weeks.

During the meeting, some members of the committee suggested seeking financial assistance from rich parliamentarians for purchasing MRI machines.

The committee chairman also remarked that briefing would be taken from the chairman of the committee formed for the purchase of the MRI machines at the next meeting.