ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) unanimously passed The Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2018 without amendment on Tuesday.

The bill was tabled by MNA Riaz Fatyana and referred to the standing committee for consideration.

At the committee’s meeting on Tuesday, held in the committee room at the Ministry of NHS, Mr Fatyana said the council would be an independent body and the government would run its affairs. The council will act as a regulatory body for the betterment of society’s psychological wellbeing, he said.

The council would resolve issues related to psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as educational institutions that teach psychology.

The committee also sought further information from the ministry on The Federal Newborn Screening Bill 2019, which was tabled by MNA Nafeesa Inayatullah Khattak.

NHS ministry asked to provide more information on newborn screening bill

Child specialist Dr Ali Raza, while briefing the committee on the bill, said that according to Unicef data 1,200 out of every 15,000 children born daily in the country face thyroid deficiency.

One in every 300 children has hearing problems, he said, and “every year seven million babies are born in the country so some tests of babies should be declared mandatory.”

The committee members expressed concerns over the absence of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on NHSDr Zafar Mirza, who was to brief the committee on various matters. Dr Mirza later did join the meeting, saying he had come to mark his attendance.

While discussing various issues, committee members said steps should be taken to streamline the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and there should be a mechanism to monitor the organisation.

They also objected to the de-notification of four council members from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), saying no one could overrule the decisions of a parliamentary committee.

PMDC officials said the council secretary had no role in de-notifying the council members on July 16, and committee chair MNA Khalid Hussain Magsi said the ministry should remove all confusion around the PMDC.

The committee also expressed displeasure with the removal of services of Pakistani doctors with MS and DS degrees by the Saudi Healthcare Commission.

The commission had taken notice based on a false reportabout the degrees not including training components. The ministry took up the matter with the Saudi government and protested the commission’s actions.

The committee directed the ministry to hold an inquiry into the issue and submit a report.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2019