ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan has said the government will form a regulatory authority to monitor the functioning of private hospitals in order to check exploitation of poor patients.

Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, the minister said the regulatory authority would check private practice of doctors to ensure cost effective and proper treatment of patients.

He said all stakeholders, including paramedics, would be given representation in the proposed authority. He acknowledged that there were complaints about private hospitals charging too much from poor patients.

He said the federal and Punjab governments had already decided to register all private hospitals, nursing homes and dispensaries. "They must be accountable for any negligence, overcharging and lack of required facilities," he added.

Besides, he said, the government was taking steps to improve facilities in public sector hospitals. He said every staff member should perform his duty with honesty and dedication and must spend eight hours in hospital. He said if someone wanted to do anything after the eight-hour duty, the government had no objection.

In reply to a question, Mr Khan claimed that prices of 55 per cent drugs were low in Pakistan as compared to India. However, he admitted that cardiovascular medicines were cheaper in India. He said the prices of medicines in Pakistan had not been changed for the last over 18 months.

The minister said the quality of drugs manufactured in Pakistan was very good but there was a need for its improvement due to the forthcoming WTO regime. He said the government had registered a large number of drugs in the last few years.

He called for starting export of drugs, particularly traditional medicines, as the local industry had great potential. "China and India are exporting traditional medicines worth $1.8 billion and $700 million, respectively, while Pakistan has zero export," he regretted.

Responding to a question, the minister said he believed that services of doctors working for a long period on contract basis should be regularized. He said the issue would be taken up by the recently-formed health commission.

He said the government was taking steps to check quacks who were playing with innocent people's lives and in this regard a bill would also be introduced in the National Assembly soon.