ISLAMABAD: Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has informed the National Assembly that the number of private health facilities have been continuously increasing in the capital, with their number reaching 2,444.

Details were submitted in reply to a question of MNA Samina Khalid Ghurki who had asked whether it was a fact that the number of private hospitals were increasing in the country.

The ministry, on behalf of Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, had informed that it was limited to the federal capital and it was a fact that as the population of the federal capital had increased, the number of health care establishments (HCEs) had also risen in the city.

According to data, there were 1,745 HCEs in 2023. However, the number had increased to 2,065 in 2024 and during the current year, the HCEs have increased to 2,444 in Islamabad.

Ministry says IHRA directed all health care establishments in Islamabad to provide waste to firms with incinerator facility

Replying to a question that many private hospitals were not following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the disposal of human waste, the health ministry said the registration of medical waste disposal companies had been carried out and was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“At present, there is no company registered with the EPA within the jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Yet in order to safely dispose of hospitals/infectious waste, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has directed all HCEs in the ICT to get MOUs signed and provide such waste to those companies that had an incinerator facility. The IHRA is taking all measures to ensure compliance with respect to waste disposal. The infectious waste disposal data of HCEs is then uploaded on electronic portal of the IHRA’s website,” it stated.

It was further informed that the IHRA conducted surprise visits at HCEs to ensure compliance.

“If any violation is observed with regard to any law of IHRA, strict action is initiated against the said HCE. A total of 499 warnings have been issued so far to various HCEs from September 2024 till date,” the ministry stated.

Replying to another question of MNA Zahra Wadood Fatemi, the health ministry said Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) had established 200-bed accident and emergency centre along with stroke intervention and extension of critical/cardiac facilities and electrophysiology department. Moreover, 200-bed cancer hospital was under construction.

“The Federal Government Polyclinic has launched the project of upgradation of the cardiology department. The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) has repaired its building with the assistance of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The District Health Office (DHO), Islamabad provides primary care facilities and upgraded its various existing basic health units (BHUs) and rural healthcare centres (RHCs) and established three new BHUs.

Additionally, two secondary care first-level hospitals had been established while three mother and child hospitals were under construction,” the ministry stated.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2025