Revealed: Forged documents used in 200 medical admissions

ISLAMABAD:

A parliamentary panel was informed on Monday that 200 students in Sindh had secured admissions using fake documents as lawmakers pressed the government over public pressure, regulatory failures and alleged corruption within health institutions.

Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Aamir Waliuddin, took up concerns including rising medicine prices, admissions secured through fake documents and the local production of vaccines.

Director general of the Inter Board Coordination Commission informed the committee that last year alone, 200 students in Sindh had secured admissions using fake documents.

During a briefing by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on the issue of escalating drug prices, committee members expressed concern over growing public backlash, prompting the minister to inform the panel that a review of medicine prices was underway.

He said that in the first phase, 25 per cent of medicines had been examined, while a further 50 per cent were now under review and a detailed report would be submitted.

Tensions rose during the meeting when allegations of corruption within the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council were discussed, leading to a heated exchange between Senator Anusha Rahman and the health minister.

Rahman questioned why an official named "Jameel", accused of corruption, had been transferred to Lahore instead of being removed from service.

In response, the minister ordered the immediate removal of the concerned officer from his post and directed that an inquiry be initiated.

The committee also debated a bill moved by Senator Sarmad Ali concerning electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes).