Despite opposition from the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), the Senate Standing Committee on NHS on Thursday passed the “Pakistan Opportunistic Screening and Treatment of Hypertension Bill 2023”.
The meeting of the committee was held with Senator Dr Muhammad Humayun Mohmand in the chair. The committee unanimously passed the private member’s bill, but the ministry stated that there was no need for the mandatory screening as the facility was already being provided to patients in hospitals.
Senator Sania Nishtar, mover of the bill, emphasised that the bill was introduced in the larger public interest as hundreds of thousands of deaths could be avoided by following the practice. The bill suggests that every patient visiting hospital should be tested for hypertension.
Furthermore, the committee deliberated on the “Islamabad Capital Territory Injured Persons (Medical Aid) Bill 2023” introduced by Senator Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani. The committee recommended that the bill should be put forward as an amendment bill.
The bill suggests that in case of accidents or bullet injuries, hospitals should immediately start treatment of the injured rather than waiting for the police.
While discussing the matter of hefty fees being charged by Dow Medical College Karachi in US dollars, officials told the meeting that 10 to 15 per cent quota had been designated for foreign students in medical colleges and these students were obligated to pay their fees in US dollars. The committee directed that details of foreign students should be provided for Dow International Medical College instead of Dow Medical College.
The Senate body was briefed on the passing percentage of ‘National Registration Examination (NRE)’ held on August 6. PMDC officials said the pass percentage of NRE1 exam was around 3.96pc as 2,729 candidates participated in the test and only 108 passed it.
Senator Rubina Khalid pointed out that NRE exam was a permanent feature of PMDC, which had to be held twice a year and it had failed to organise a schedule of the exam. She added that PMDC had increased the passing score from 50 to 70pc without providing any sufficient ground. The committee directed the PMDC to reconsider the passing criteria by keeping in view the General International Practice.
The allegation that the malfunctioning AC system in OPD, emergency wards and children OPD at Pims and Polyclinic Hospital had resulted in the death of patients was raised by Senator Kamran Murtaza and Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad. Officials refuted the allegation, stating that no casualties had resulted due to malfunctioning of the AC system.
They said a project worth Rs725 million was approved in 2018 with an estimated completion period of two years for the upgradation of AC system in Pims. But the project hasn’t been completed so far. The project is under execution by PWD. The committee decided to invite the officials of PWD and the consultancy firm in the upcoming meeting.
