ISLAMABAD: Participants of a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) seemed to be on edge on Thursday, leading to outbursts and boycott threats during discussions

Though it is usual for committee members to be passed notes prompting them to ask questions, Minister NHS Saira Afzal Tarar was annoyed by the practice during the meeting, which was chaired by Sajjad Hussein Turi.

One of the participants, who is not a parliamentarian, passed a note to Senator Ateeq Sheikh so he can ask a question during a discussion on the irregularities in medical colleges.

Ms Tarar was sitting across from Mr Sheikh, on the other side of the table, and saw the exchange.

“Chits should not be passed to members of committees. If any member wants to ask a question, they should be briefed before the meeting starts and participate in the meeting when they are here,” she said.

The atmosphere remained tense throughout the remainder of the meeting.

During a discussion on the increase in fees for medical colleges, Ms Tarar said colleges should have a right to increase fees as they have not increased fees for many years now.

“The committee should recommend that new medical colleges should be registered and then it should allow for medical colleges to increase fee,” she said.

To this, Mr Turi replied: “What is the problem with you? We have been supporting students and we are not in favour of any increases in fees. We will not allow this injustice. Why do you want to make medical education [inaccessible] to poor students?”

Ms Tarar got offended over these remarks and said she will not attend meetings if the chairman of the committee will continue behaving like this towards her.

Other members intervened and tried to normalise the atmosphere of the meeting and the discussion resumed.

Earlier, Senator Kalsoom Parveen wanted to speak but was ignored by the chair and she announced she will boycott the meeting. She started to leave but changed her mind after Senator Ashok Kumar requested her to stay. Ms Parveen said if it was necessary for medical colleges to increase fees, the matter should be brought before the committee to decide if the colleges were facing losses.

Dr Kumar said he will agree to the ministry’s proposal if it could provide the name of a single medical college which is facing losses.

Earlier, the NHS director general had said medical colleges in India were charging Rs2 million per annum and suggested fees should be increased. Mr Turi said the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council should take strict action if colleges increase fee.

It was decided that the discussion will continue at the next meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2017