Poor performance: NA panel to complain to premier about health minister
Legislators say their proposals were ignored.
ISLAMABAD:
Disappointed with the performance of the federal health ministry, a parliamentary panel on Wednesday decided to complain to the premier in writing about its minister.
Members of a sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health reprimanded Health Minster Saira Afzal Tarar and the federal health secretary for failing to turn up for the meeting. Expressing displeasure over the fact that their recommendations had been ignored on several occasions, they decided to write a letter to the president, prime minister and National Assembly speaker and request them to remove the health minister and secretary.
The performance of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination came under discussion with particular reference to international restrictions on travellers due to the polio epidemic.
The sub-committee’s chairman, MNA Dr Zulfiqar Bhatti said that they would request the premier to take strict action against the ministry’s officials.
Despite several reminders, the minister and health secretary did not come to the meeting to brief sub-committee members over questions they raised regarding the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Dug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and mega corruption taking place in vertical health programmes, he stated.
“This shows how much they are committed to improving the health of the nation. Just because of their irresponsible attitude Pakistan is facing embarrassment as every single person going abroad has to take polio drops.”
Every time the minister claims that PMDC and DRAP do not come in the domain of the health ministry and vertical health programmes have been devolved to provinces, he said. “If that is the case then what do they all do when they have no authority to resolve major health issues?”
Dr Bhatti said prices of medicines are increasing day by day despite of the fact that there has been a significant drop in the cost of raw material used in manufacturing drugs. “Committee members have several times asked the minister to remove the PMDC registrar but he is still indulging in corrupt practices.”
“Just like PMDC, the health ministry has also become a parking place for officials enjoying handsome salary packages and perks and privileges, while people are dying due to poor health services.”
Dr Afzal Khan, Dr Nisar Jutt Dr Mohammad Azhar Khan Jadoon and Abdul Qahar Khan seconded Dr Bhatti.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2014.
Disappointed with the performance of the federal health ministry, a parliamentary panel on Wednesday decided to complain to the premier in writing about its minister.
Members of a sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health reprimanded Health Minster Saira Afzal Tarar and the federal health secretary for failing to turn up for the meeting. Expressing displeasure over the fact that their recommendations had been ignored on several occasions, they decided to write a letter to the president, prime minister and National Assembly speaker and request them to remove the health minister and secretary.
The performance of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination came under discussion with particular reference to international restrictions on travellers due to the polio epidemic.
The sub-committee’s chairman, MNA Dr Zulfiqar Bhatti said that they would request the premier to take strict action against the ministry’s officials.
Despite several reminders, the minister and health secretary did not come to the meeting to brief sub-committee members over questions they raised regarding the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Dug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and mega corruption taking place in vertical health programmes, he stated.
“This shows how much they are committed to improving the health of the nation. Just because of their irresponsible attitude Pakistan is facing embarrassment as every single person going abroad has to take polio drops.”
Every time the minister claims that PMDC and DRAP do not come in the domain of the health ministry and vertical health programmes have been devolved to provinces, he said. “If that is the case then what do they all do when they have no authority to resolve major health issues?”
Dr Bhatti said prices of medicines are increasing day by day despite of the fact that there has been a significant drop in the cost of raw material used in manufacturing drugs. “Committee members have several times asked the minister to remove the PMDC registrar but he is still indulging in corrupt practices.”
“Just like PMDC, the health ministry has also become a parking place for officials enjoying handsome salary packages and perks and privileges, while people are dying due to poor health services.”
Dr Afzal Khan, Dr Nisar Jutt Dr Mohammad Azhar Khan Jadoon and Abdul Qahar Khan seconded Dr Bhatti.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2014.