ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) on Friday expressed serious concern over the reported 300,000 HIV cases in Pakistan, noting that only 87,000 have been diagnosed and just 34,000 patients are currently under treatment.

The committee was informed that none of the private hospitals and dispensaries in Islamabad held a valid licence, despite the establishment of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) in 2018.

Serious concerns were raised over unregulated pricing by private hospitals, lack of charity care, detention of patients and dead bodies over unpaid bills, poor solid waste management, illegal clinics, unsafe abortions, and the over-the-counter sale of medicines by pharmacies without prescriptions.

The concerns were discussed during a meeting held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani to review critical public health challenges, regulatory lapses in the private healthcare sector and policy bottlenecks affecting medical education and patient welfare.

During the meeting, members highlighted grave issues related to the identification of hotspots and red zones, as well as alarming reports of HIV-positive newborns, particularly in Sindh and other parts of the country.

The committee directed the ministry to urgently clarify whether the reported cases of HIV-positive newborns were misinformation or reflected ground realities, stressing the need for random testing, preventive measures and nationwide awareness campaigns.

Members also raised concerns over unsafe injection practices, reuse of syringes and unnecessary injections in private healthcare facilities, recommending a shift towards oral medication where feasible.

The ministry cited stigma, lack of awareness and unsafe medical practices as major contributors to the spread of HIV.

The committee emphasised the promotion of lifestyle medicine, preventive healthcare, public awareness and stronger regulatory oversight to reduce the disease burden and healthcare costs.

It also discussed issues related to the validity of Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) results, vacant seats and seat-switching.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) stated that a window existed to fill remaining seats for the current session, though members contested the reported number of vacant seats. PMDC proposed a 10 per cent additional quota to accommodate students from previous years and assured that leftover seats after seat switching would be filled following council approval.

The committee directed PMDC to formulate a clear and permanent policy in advance, amend relevant provisions regarding MDCAT validity and resolve recurring issues arising from difficult examination patterns and frequent seat vacancies. Dr Malani urged PMDC to take an immediate decision at the council level.

It was also decided to take up the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Ordinance, 2025, in detail at the next meeting.

The committee, however, asked the ministry to submit a comparative analysis of the recent ordinance and the Pakistan Nursing Council Act, 2023, within three days, along with official notification details of its council members.

Members stressed the inclusion of expert opinion and private sector representation in future meetings for a more balanced approach.

Expressing serious dissatisfaction with IHRA’s performance, the committee noted the absence of a finalized licensing framework, lack of progress reports, weak inspection mechanisms and failure to enforce social welfare obligations by private hospitals.

Members also alleged harassment by IHRA inspection teams and conflicts of interest within the authority’s board.

Representatives of private hospitals, including Shifa International Hospital, Farooq Hospital, Kulsoom Hospital and Quaid-i-Azam International Hospital, presented their positions.

Farooq Hospital was appreciated for providing 35 per cent welfare care and treating patients under the Sehat Sahulat Programme. Shifa International Hospital assured compliance with social welfare obligations and was directed to submit detailed welfare data for the past year.

IHRA informed the committee that its chief executive officer had recently assumed charge, inspection teams had increased from 12 to 26, a registration board had been constituted, and online licensing would become operational before the next meeting.

The committee granted IHRA one month to process all complete licensing applications, enforce strict regulatory checks on private hospitals in Islamabad and ensure that rate lists at hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies were displayed publicly.

The committee also directed that all private hospitals offering teaching facilities adopt the Sehat Sahulat Card, prioritise lifesaving treatment, and declare failure to provide emergency care a criminal offence through a legislative amendment to the IHRA Act.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Sabheen Ghoury, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Farah Naz Akbar, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Dr Darshan, Gul Asghar Khan, Aliya Kamran and Farukh Khan. Senior officials from the Ministry of NHSR&C, PMDC, Drap, AHPC, IHRA and representatives of private hospitals in Islamabad were also present.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026