Improving medical services: Healthcare body to keep an eye on hospitals

Sindh Assembly passes bill to set up commission for healthcare services.

KARACHI:

To improve the quality of healthcare services and ban quackery in the province, Sindh Assembly passed a bill on Monday to establish the Sindh Healthcare Commission.

The commission will work as a watchdog to register, regulate and monitor public and private hospitals. The bill was introduced six months ago when it was referred to a special committee headed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Irfanullah Marwat to obtain the lawmakers’ input.

Presenting the bill, parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro explained the commission will grant, revoke and renew licences to persons involved in the provision of healthcare service. He said that strict action would be taken against doctors and hospital administrations that harass patients in the name of fees.

The salient features of the law, said the commission, would impose and collect penalties against the violation, breach and non-compliance of the law. “Earlier, there was no independent body to hear the complaints of patients and health service providers. The commission will take action on their behalf now,” said Dr Mandhro, adding that if the complaint is false, the complainant shall be liable to pay a fine of up to Rs200,000.

“We have received a complaint that a private hospital had charged Rs150,000 from a patient, and later insisted the patients pays an get extra Rs50,000.” Now, such cases would be dealt by the commission, he said.

The law said that fine of up to Rs500,000 would be imposed on those practicing without the registration of their medical centres and Rs50,000 may be imposed on those who fail to cooperate with the inspection team, which will make sure the apparatus, appliances, equipment and products are up to standard.

“The security of healthcare workers on duty should be the responsibility of the organisation availing their services,” said the law. It also stated that public or private organisations for which doctors or paramedics are working should provide full protection, both physical and legal. “In case of a physical injury on duty, the doctors and healthcare workers should be fully compensated.”

A committee will be formed under the supervision of health minister, which will notify the board consisting of nine commissioners. The provincial government would nominate a former judge of the Sindh High Court and a financial expert as commissioners while seven others would be nominated by the committee itself.  Representatives of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, College of Physician and Surgeons of Pakistan, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Mental Health Authority, Pakistan Nursing Council, Pakistan Medical Association, Auditor General of Pakistan, National Council for Tibb and National Council for Homeopathy will be members of the technical advisory board.

Sindh Environmental Protection Law

After the 18th Amendment, Sindh Assembly became the first legislative assembly of the country to pass the Environmental Protection Bill. Under this law, Sindh Environmental Protection Council was formed under the supervision of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. The provincial environment minister will be vice-chairperson and other members of the committee include forest, Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Trade Unions, Education, Health and Livestock department officials.

Meanwhile, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency is also established to implement the provisions of the act. The law revealed that environmental protection tribunal and courts will be established and strict action would be taken against those who violate the law. “Whoever contravenes or fails to comply with the law shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to Rs5 million,” the law said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2014.