ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has constituted a committee to prevent corruption in the health sector.

The Prevention Committee on Health Affairs was formed by NAB chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry and is headed by director general of the awareness and prevention wing, Aliya Rashid.

According to the NAB spokesman, the committee comprises representatives of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), National Aids Control Programme, National TB Control Programme, Ministry of National Health Services, Directorate of Malaria Control, a consultant from the private sector and other stakeholders.

“The committee has the mandate to formulate recommendations to educate and advise officials of the ministry, including its different divisions, and other institutions on measures to combat corruption,” he said.

The committee will examine health-related laws, rules and regulations to eliminate corruption and corrupt practices in the health sector.

Several recommendations were made in the first meeting of the committee on Monday. The head of the committee said that nine-sub committees had been formed to formulate recommendations and introduce reforms in the health sector.

Six of the sub-committees have prepared recommendations on reforms in pharmaceutical evaluations, registration of controlled drugs, drug pricing and licensing, quality control, laboratory testing, pharmacy services, over-the-counter products, medical devices and medicated cosmetics, organ transplant, the NIH, Tibb and homeopathy sectors, the PMDC, the PIMS, Polyclinic Hospital and federal government hospitals and guidelines for procurement of vaccine and syringes.

It was decided that the recommendations of committee might be revised in the light of discussion made and suggestions presented during the meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

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