Senate panel directs FIA to look into fake nurses’ matter

The Senate Subcommittee on National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination on Wednesday directed the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) to investigate into the matter of bogus affiliations of nurses with hospitals and fake certificates issued to them by the institutions registered with the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC).

The subcommittee directed to write a letter to the Ministry of National Health Services on their persistence negligence and unpreparedness on this crucial matter involving lives of the people of Pakistan.

It was also recommended that the matter may also be marked to the prime minister.

The committee also sought details of the new nursing council after it had been notified.

The convener admonished the PNC, terming the act as “criminal negligence”.

“We will not let you play with the lives of the people,” Senator Rubina Khalid said, grieving over the “menace” spread by the PNC.

“This is all fake. The PNC runs with speed money – buy seats along with thug behaviour,” she said, adding that “this mafia” had to stop.

The meeting chaired by Senator Rubina and attended by members senators Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar and Dr Mehr Taj Roghani held at the Parliament House took serious notice of non-representation of the PNC and absence of the secretary, or the special secretary and other relevant officers of the ministry on the matter.

The convener expressed shock that no representatives were present to brief such a climacteric agenda point, saying: “The ministry and the PNC jointly are trying to fool us.”

The subcommittee on inquiring about the absence of Rafat Jan, the chairman of PNC, was informed by the council representative that she had to attend a function at the PM Office.

The convener sought intimation letter and also the invitation. The committee observed that no specific name was mentioned on the invitation and it was an open invitation of a fund-raising event.

The subcommittee members remarked that the matter being discussed here was far more pertinent than the PM Office event, seeking all the details of the event which was found more important than this crucial matter of fake nursing.

The subcommittee also sought the specific invitation through which the PNC chairman was invited.

The subcommittee noted that instead of the chairman, the PNC IT incharge was nominated to present the matter which spoke volumes of mala fide intent at the part of the council. The committee also decided to bring the matter to the main committee for strict action.

The subcommittee also thoroughly went through the working papers on the registration of hospitals with the PNC. On examination, it termed the entire working paper a “pack of fraud”, saying that there were several registrations which needed clarification.

The meeting was deferred after regret and exasperation for further deliberation.