Corruption brewery: NCH misconduct stories stun Senate body

Chairman calls for detailed investigation; asks for proof against allegations.

ISLAMABAD: A barrage of allegations including issuance of fake degrees to 1,200 homeopaths marked the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services on Wednesday.

Chairman Examining Body and Member of National Council for Homoeopathy (NCH) Nasir Ahmad Chaudhary stated that the council had become a hub of corruption and nepotism, and that political intervention had destroyed its credibility.



“Many students notified as successful had flunked their exams. We have around 1,200 students who have been awarded degrees and have started to practise homeopathy,” he stated. “There are also around 16 ghost employees at the council who are paid in millions but are not known to either the council staff or the top management.”

Chaudhary also accused former minister Firdous Ashiq Awan of overlooking the problem during her tenure and said it was during her tenure that malpractice at the council reached its peak.

The committee directed NCH officials to submit documentary proof of the allegations with the ministry for an investigation.

Officials of Royal College of Homoeopathic Medicine Bahawalpur alleged that the president of council was declining registration to new colleges due on political basis, affecting the future of many students.

The issue of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) also led to a heated debate when the senate body was informed that the college was not giving fellowships and memberships to several colleges, including King Edwards Medical University Lahore.

A lack of connection and coordination between Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), CPSP and other bodies also came under discussion during the meeting.

Chairperson of the committee Senator Zafar Ali Shah termed the allegations serious and directed Secretary National Regulations and Services Imtiaz Inayat Elahi to look into the matter, a step welcomed by Minister Saira Afzal Tarar who asked for a swift submission of a report with the committee.

PMDC officials also said the ministry of health had yet to notify nomination of 16 office bearers after elections at the council.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2014.