ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Monday criticised the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) for not complying with its recommendations on the lack of oxygen gas and medicines at the Parliament Lodges dispensary.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on NHS met at the ministry with MNA Khalid Hussain Magsi in the chair.

The committee protested the NHS ministry’s behaviour after it did not submit a response to the committee’s recommendations.

However, Parliamentary Secretary for NHS Dr Nausheen Hamid assured the MNAs she would look into the matter and ensure the submission of actions taken against committee recommendations at the next meeting.

The committee also sought to bring to the ministry’s attention the dilapidated state of Islamabad district health units (DHU).

MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz said basic necessities such as the provision of water and electrification were lacking at the DHUs, but said that the construction and renovation of some such units by the Public Works Department was underway.

Since the ministry has allocated funding in the Public Sector Development Programme for this fiscal year for the rehabilitation of DHUs in Islamabad, the committee emphasis upon the need for the ministry to focus on providing basic necessities instead of beginning renovations in DHU buildings.

The committee also deferred the Pakistan Health Research Council (Amendment) Bill 2020 and The Islamabad Transfusion of Safe Blood (Amendment) Bill 2019 until its next meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2020