Public healthcare facilities: Minister announces plans to initiate PPP model
ISLAMABAD: Amid growing number of patients and poor conditions of government hospitals in the federal capital, Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal announced plans to initiate a public-private partnership model to address the growing pressure on public healthcare facilities.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination was held under the chairmanship of Amir Waliuddin Chishti, here on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed complaint against on duty medical officer (CMO) of Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad.
Senator Syed Masroor Ahmed expressed serious concern about the dire condition of the Polyclinic hospital and emphasised the need for immediate attention and improvement. He shared his personal observations during a visit, where he witnessed the substandard conditions and expressed concern over the inadequate state of healthcare services.
Furthering to this, he pointed out that patients are advised to obtain prescribed medications from outside pharmacies.
Kamal, informed the committee that the city is served by two major hospitals and 30 Basic Health Units (BHUs). However, he informed that these facilities are experiencing significant strain, with nearly 70 percent of the population relying on them for medical care. He also noted that many individuals, even those suffering from common ailments such as headaches, are visiting these hospitals despite being able to afford private healthcare, further exacerbating the burden on public health institutions.
He also revealed that patients from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa come to Islamabad for treatment in these hospitals. The hospitals which can accommodate approximately 3,000 patients are now serving up to 30,000 patients. Which cause immense pressure on their resources and services.
Kamal also informed the committee that they have identified a viable solution to address the growing pressure on public healthcare facilities. He announced plans to initiate a public-private partnership model with the involvement of the private sector on a non-profit basis. He added that work on this initiative is expected to commence within the next 15 to 20 days.
The minister further briefed the committee that a Jinnah Medical Complex is being established in Islamabad, which will also be one of the largest medical research centres in the region.
The chairman committee inquired about the underutilised hospital buildings constructed during the Covid-19 pandemic with a 266-bed capacity.
He questioned why such existing infrastructure was not being utilised effectively. The minister stated that steps are being taken to bring those buildings into operational use. He also shared that several extensions of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) are currently under development across different areas of Islamabad, many of which are nearing completion.
The chairman recommended the establishment of an additional hospital in Islamabad, noting that despite the city's population having grown to approximately 2.6 to 2.7 million; it continues to be served by only two major public hospitals.
He emphasised the urgent need to expand the healthcare infrastructure in line with the city's increasing population demands.
The committee raised concerns regarding alleged corruption and mismanagement in the Pakistan Nursing Council. During a discussion, the Federal Minister for Health, strongly criticised the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), describing it as a 'mafia-like' entity.
He stated that while he holds certain verbal authority over the institution, he lacks the formal, written powers required to implement substantial reforms. He added that the institution has been severely mismanaged and has suffered extensive damage due to internal dysfunction.
The chairman committee and members extended their full support to the minister, encouraging him to bring forward any proposed legislative amendments necessary to reform the PNC. They assured him of their cooperation in ensuring accountability and institutional improvement. The members, unanimously, agreed that they stand ready to assist in any efforts aimed at restoring transparency and efficiency within the Council.
Additionally, the minister suggested an in-camera meeting to present a detailed way forward, outlining actionable steps to transform and improve the functioning of the PNC.
The committee was briefed on plan by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) concerning misleading formula milk advertisement that DRAP Act, 2012 and Alternative Medicines and Health Products (Enlistment) Rules, 2014 defines 'baby milk and food' as Health and OTC Products (non-drugs).
Furthermore, they told that the matter of dual regulatory framework for the regulation of baby milk and food was agitated at the forum of SIFC and BOI since February 2024 as same can also be regulated by provincial food departments as per their legislation.
After several meetings at SIFC and BOI, it was decided to exclude the regulation of the baby milk and food from the domain DRAP and it will be exclusively regulated by provincial food departments and baby milk and foods for special medical needs and treatments will be regulated by DRAP only.
Resultantly, amendments in The Alternative Medicines and Health Products (Enlistment) Rules, 2024, have been vetted by the Law and Justice Division and summary is being submitted to CCLC for approval of Federal Cabinet.
Following this, after a comprehensive briefing, the committee decided to discuss this in forthcoming in-camera meeting.
During the committee meeting, it was noted that the vice chancellor of the Health Services Academy had been officially summoned.
However, he failed to appear before the committee and taking serious notice of his absence, the chairman committee recommended that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee to determine the reason for his non-compliance.
The federal minister for health also expressed concern over the vice chancellor's absence, stating that he should have been present at the meeting and no one in the committee was informed of the reason behind the vice chancellor's absence.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Clinics-on-Wheels
EDITORIAL: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched the second phase of her government's Clinics-on-Wheels project. In a healthcare system fraught with delayed diagnosis and overburdened hospitals this can be a path-breaking initiative, particularly for the role mobile health units are to play in detecting and preventing disease before it takes root. The 911 mobile clinics spread all across Punjab represent one of the most practical and impactful ways for addressing public health issues, especially in underserved and remote areas. As the CM explained, one of the most important contributions these clinics are to make is through early screening and timely diagnosis. We all know that detecting health issues in their early stages allows for timely intervention, lessening both suffering and long-term therapeutic costs. Yet many chronic but treatable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, and certain cancers remain undetected until they cause complications. More often than not, those affected belong to low income groups or rural communities with little or no access to primary care, not to mention tertiary health services. Offering routine screenings and basic diagnostics right at the doorstep, mobile clinics can enable early identification of at risk individuals, and deliver free of cost treatment, too. Another major area where Clinics-on-Wheels are set to make a crucial contribution is vaccination and immunisation, integral to infectious disease prevention and control. By bringing vaccines directly into communities, especially those living in far-flung areas, mobile units can maximize immunisation coverage, reducing the spread of communicable diseases by achieving broader health goals, like 'herd immunity' (think of Covid-19 and poliovirus). Yet another area that stands to benefit from the project is maternal and child health. Mobile clinics are to provide antenatal checkups, nutritional guidance, and safe delivery referrals— all of which play a useful role in preventing complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Postnatal services include checkups and immunisation for the newborns, thereby protecting the babies against long-term health issues. Last but not the least, these mobile clinics can become a great source for collecting data about common illnesses, vaccination rates, and nutritional deficiencies, helping relevant authorities make informed policy decisions regarding old/ new health threats. Dwelling on the related issue of corrupt practices involving free of cost medicines Maryam Nawaz mentioned having seen cartons of medicines lying in hospitals stores and the patients being denied free medicines. To guard against the problem she said 'no doctor in any hospital can order [patients or their attendants to buy] medicines from outside.' There is a simpler yet more effective way of stopping such malpractices, which is to have all medicines purchased for government hospitals stamped 'NOT FOR Sale.' One can only hope the Punjab government's Clinics-on-Wheels initiative serves as a successful role model for all provinces in building a healthier and equitable system, wherein prevention truly becomes better than cure. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Kamal for improving ‘whole system'
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that Pakistan's healthcare system is riddled with fundamental flaws, and the solution lies not just in building hospitals but in improving the entire environment. Addressing at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), he said that Pakistan's population growth is outpacing its resources. 'The annual population growth rate has reached a staggering 3.6%, compared to the national resource capacity.' He highlighted the dire conditions of healthcare facilities, citing the example of PIMS Hospital, where one doctor is expected to see 40 patients but currently attends to over 250. 'Around 68% of diseases in Pakistan are caused by contaminated water, and we still lack a proper sewage treatment system.' Kamal pointed out that Pakistan ranks among the highest globally in diabetes and hepatitis C cases, and while polio has been eradicated globally, it still persists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Emphasizing the role of technology, the health minister announced that reforms in the health sector would be introduced through a public-philanthropic partnership model. He said that collaboration with NADRA is under way to convert national identity card numbers into Medical Record Numbers (MRN), with legislation for this initiative expected soon. He said we have only 170,000 nurses, but we need at least 900,000. Globally, there is demand for 2.5 million Pakistani nurses, potentially turning this sector into a multi-billion-dollar foreign exchange earner for Pakistan. Kamal underscored the need to strengthen the country's primary healthcare infrastructure, pointing out that nearly 70% of patients in major hospitals suffer from minor illnesses that should be treated at primary healthcare centers. He stressed the strategic importance of Karachi, saying, 'If this city were in someone else's hands, its condition would have transformed by now. Though we lack authority, we are serving Karachi with full dedication.' Earlier, KATI President Junaid Naqi lamented that industrial workers and their families face difficulties in accessing basic healthcare services. 'It is extremely unfortunate that a city contributing so much to Pakistan's economy faces such a severe shortage of hospitals and primary care facilities.' Calling for immediate action, Naqi demanded that the federal government allocate special funds for healthcare in Karachi, especially in the Korangi Industrial Area. 'Healthy citizens form the foundation of a strong economy.' Deputy Patron-in-Chief of KATI, Zubair Chhaya, also expressed deep concern over the federal government's continuous neglect of Karachi. 'Road networks are being built across the country, but Karachi remains overlooked.' This city has consistently been the backbone of Pakistan's economy, and it deserves immediate attention regarding both healthcare and economic development.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology: ‘Govt, FCCI, business community to add new emergency block'
FAISALABAD: The business community of Faisalabad is playing a key role in the comprehensive development of Faisalabad in addition to providing latest health facilities to its inhabitants, said Rehan Naseem Bharara, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). He said that Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) was overburdened with the heavy influx of cardiac patients from all over the region and Government in collaboration with FCCI and business community has decided to add a new emergency block with 70 beds which could be further expanded up to 250 beds. Bharara appreciated the generosity of the business community and said that leading local philanthropists including Seth Iftikhar, Mian Javed Iqbal, Farrukh Zaman and Mian Sheroz in close collaboration with FCCI and administration have focused on this public welfare project which would be completed with the donations of the business community. He also thanked Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Secretary Health Azmat Mehmood, Special Secretary Health Tariq Rehmani, Divisional Commissioner Madam Maryum Khan and Deputy Commissioner Captain Retired Nadeem Nasir for their keen interest in this project. He said that it would not only facilitate the local heart patients but also cater to the immediate needs of the adjoining divisions. He said that FCCI would play a motivational and catalytic role for its early completion while Seth Iftikhar would personally supervise the construction work. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
