Islamabad, the 29th August, 2025: The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, at Committee Room no 7, Parliament House, Islamabad.

2. The Standing Committee on NHSR&C discussed a wide range of pressing issues related to healthcare governance, medical education, regulatory oversight and employee rights. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from regulatory bodies, medical institutions and the Ministry of Health to address ongoing challenges and ensure timely implementation of the Committee’s previous recommendations.

 

3. A major area of focus was the regulation and oversight of private hospitals, laboratories, and healthcare facilities. The Committee discussed its Sub-Committee report previously constituted under the Convenership of Dr. Amjad Ali Khan, MNA. The Sub-Committee presented its findings, revealing widespread non-compliance with licensing requirements, improper waste management practices, and a lack of transparency in Islamabad’s private hospital operations. Several private healthcare facilities were found operating without valid licenses and it was also highlighted that some IHRA board members had conflicts of interest, owning private setups themselves. The Committee directed the Ministry of NHSR&C to strengthen the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), issue immediate show-cause notices to all non-compliant hospitals and develop a robust regulatory framework for licensing and monitoring. The regulatory authority was further tasked with categorizing healthcare facilities based on service levels and establishing standardized service charges for each category. The Ministry of NHSR&C was also asked to submit a detailed report in the next meeting for review and formal adoption.

 

4. The meeting also included a review of broader healthcare system gaps, including the unavailability of emergency medicines such as morphine for cancer patients, Ministry’s accelerated coordination in flood-affected areas and poor performance of Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in ICT.

 

5. The Committee also expressed concern over the treatment of postgraduate medical trainees, particularly those enrolled in FCPS and MCPS programs at institutions like Isra University. It was revealed that many trainees were working without stipends, despite clear government policies mandating paid training. The Committee reiterated that honorary training was not allowed and directed that all trainees be paid stipends in accordance with Federal and Provincial standards. Isra University was specifically instructed to submit a written commitment to pay stipends to all trainees and provide records of stipend disbursements for the past three months. The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) supported the Committee’s stance and emphasized the need for compliance across all training institutions. The Committee warned that failure to comply would result in regulatory consequences, including suspension of institutional registration.

 

6. The Committee addressed employee service matters cases involving expired contracts, delayed promotions and improper disciplinary procedures. It was noted that several PMDC employees whose contracts expired on June 13, 2023, had not received clarity about their employment status. The Ministry of NHSR&C was directed to resolve these issues immediately and provide a compliance report by next week. The Committee also instructed PMDC to submit an inquiry report related to the mishandling of disciplinary procedures and ensure merit-based promotions in cases where employees were cleared by FIA.

 

7. Additionally, the Committee took up the longstanding issue of foreign medical graduates from Kyrgyzstan and recommended the PMDC to allow those students to appear in NRE. Moreover, the Ministry of NHSR&C and PMDC were instructed to submit a complete report within three days, detailing all overseas institutions recognized between 2020 and the present, along with legal clarifications and student data. The Committee warned that failure to comply with these directives would result in the Ministry being barred from attending future meetings.

 

8. The Committee reiterated its deep concern over continued non-compliance and inaction by various regulatory bodies and institutions. It was emphasized that the Committee’s recommendations must be implemented in both letter and spirit. Strict deadlines were set for submission of reports, compliance updates and institutional reforms. The Chair concluded by reaffirming the Committee’s commitment to upholding the rights of medical professionals, protecting patients, and improving healthcare delivery systems in Pakistan. The Committee deferred all the legislative agenda till the next meeting that included Starred Question Nos. 20, 23 and 49 moved by Syed Rafiullah, MNA, The Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (moved by Syed Rafiullah, MNA) and “The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024” (moved by Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA).

 

9. The meeting was attended by MNAs, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Shaista Khan, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Dr. Darshan, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Farukh Khan and Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz in person whereas, Mr. Shabbir Ali Qureshi, MNA attended via zoom. Other senior officers from the M/o NHSR&C and its attached departments including CPSP. PIMS, PMDC and IHRA were also present in the meeting.