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Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
NA body says concerned at polio resurgence
ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) expressing serious concerns over the resurgence of polio has recommended that to contain the disease besides vaccination the authorities must also take measures such as drainage, cleaning and environmental protection. The committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA said that it has been observed that steps like drainage cleaning and environmental protection were totally being ignored by local administrations. Members stressed that preventing polio required a holistic response, not just immunisation. Addressing the resurgence of polio, the committee noted that cases had re-emerged in south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Karachi due to poor sanitation and repeated failure to vaccinate large numbers of children due to security reasons and other such constraints. It was also observed that while the authorities were fully focusing on the vaccination drives, local governments were not playing their part to purge the area of polio. The committee held an extensive meeting on Thursday to examine pressing concerns related to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), medical education testing procedures, regulatory failures in the healthcare sector and ongoing policy issues regarding medicine procurement and public health. The committee expressed grave concern over the failure of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the Ministry of National Health Services to resolve the issue of students of Al-Nafees Medical College and directed the PMDC to immediately summon the students and university officials and resolve the matter amicably and to reach a merit-based within five days. Members observed that student careers had been put at risk due to administrative negligence and lack of coordination among PMDC, universities and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. The committee also discussed the matter of Pakistani students graduating from Kyrgyzstan and directed the PMDC that all students who had enrolled at the university during the period when the medical college was duly registered should be recognised without any further delay. 'The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (moved by Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA)' was deferred to the next meeting. On the issue of mental health legislation, the Committee recommended withdrawal of 'The Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024' (moved by Shaista Pervaiz, MNA) only on the assurance by the Ministry of NHSR&C that its provisions would be incorporated into the Allied Health Professionals Council Act, 2022, to avoid duplication. The committee directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to expedite recruitments process, and to ensure standardisation and price regulation of medical devices, including stents and lenses. It emphasised that there must be no compromise on quality and strictly prohibited the use of substandard instruments. The committee also sought an update on DRAP's digital licensing system and ongoing reforms. The committee deliberated on the longstanding administrative crisis at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), where allegations of staff absenteeism, ghost surgeries and internal victimisation were raised. The chairman dissolved the Sub-Committee on NIRM and decided that the issue would now be taken up in the main Standing Committee, where all stakeholders would be heard in an in-camera session. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Population growth, climate change: Aurangzeb identifies ‘critical' existential challenges facing Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Thursday that sustainable economic growth — aimed at realising the vision of Pakistan becoming a $3 trillion economy by 2047 — would remain elusive unless the country squarely addresses two critical existential challenges: climate change and population growth. This, he stated while addressing an event organised by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to mark World Population Day. Aurangzeb also supported the call for population to be recognised as a core allocation criterion in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. He said that the existing resource-sharing formula needed to evolve to reflect new realities, especially those concerning population and climate-related pressures. Finance minister urges population as key criterion in NFC Award formula The minister agreed with the views expressed by the health and planning ministers, advocating for the inclusion of broader human development indices to guide equitable resource distribution between the federation and provinces. The finance minister underscored that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government is pursuing a broad-based reform agenda covering key areas such as taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises, and privatisation. The minister emphasised the need to address the two existential issues of population and climate change to ensure sustainable economic growth. Talking about the 2.55 percent growth rate of population, Aurangzeb said that it has alarming implications for national development, economic planning, and social well-being. Citing the fact that 40 percent of children under five in Pakistan suffer from stunted growth, he warned that the country's future leadership is already at risk. He stressed that addressing stunting and learning poverty requires an integrated, end-to-end approach, encompassing nutrition, sanitation, clean drinking water, birth spacing, and greater awareness—all of which were discussed by scholars and experts at the event. The minister also highlighted the importance of empowering women, who constitute half the country's population, noting that inclusive workforce participation is essential for Pakistan's sustainable development. He reiterated the need to tackle learning poverty, especially among girls, and to invest meaningfully in education and skills development to enable women to contribute productively to the economy. He emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in national budgeting. Rather than compartmentalising federal and provincial finances, he proposed a unified, country-level approach to development spending. Citing this year's development budget of Rs1 trillion at the federal level and Rs4.2 trillion when including provinces, he noted that the real challenge is not the availability of funds but their optimal allocation and prioritisation. Aurangzeb also called for a reorientation of donor engagement and development financing. He remarked that while infrastructure had been the primary recipient of international funding in the past, it is now imperative to direct those resources toward human capital development, particularly in health, education, and population planning. He referenced Pakistan's 10-year Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank, noting that four out of its six pillars focus on population and climate-related issues. He informed the gathering that one-third of the total funding—amounting to nearly $20 billion over a decade, or around $600–700 million annually—will be dedicated to population-related measures. He urged that such resources must be strategically deployed, moving beyond symbolic steps like tax relief on contraceptives, and instead ensuring impactful investments across the board. The minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to prioritising long-term, sustainable solutions to Pakistan's population challenges and leveraging both domestic and international resources to build a healthier, more productive nation. He urged policymakers and development partners to go beyond traditional infrastructure investments and prioritise human capital development. 'We have built roads and power projects, but it's time to invest in people,' he said. 'This is the only way to ensure real, inclusive, and sustainable progress.' The event was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, as well as prominent religious scholars, members of civil society, and senior government officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Population growth, climate change: Aurangzeb identifies ‘critical' existential challenges facing country
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Thursday that sustainable economic growth — aimed at realising the vision of Pakistan becoming a $3 trillion economy by 2047 — would remain elusive unless the country squarely addresses two critical existential challenges: climate change and population growth. This, he stated while addressing an event organised by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to mark World Population Day. Aurangzeb also supported the call for population to be recognised as a core allocation criterion in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. He said that the existing resource-sharing formula needed to evolve to reflect new realities, especially those concerning population and climate-related pressures. Finance minister urges population as key criterion in NFC Award formula The minister agreed with the views expressed by the health and planning ministers, advocating for the inclusion of broader human development indices to guide equitable resource distribution between the federation and provinces. The finance minister underscored that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government is pursuing a broad-based reform agenda covering key areas such as taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises, and privatisation. The minister emphasised the need to address the two existential issues of population and climate change to ensure sustainable economic growth. Talking about the 2.55 percent growth rate of population, Aurangzeb said that it has alarming implications for national development, economic planning, and social well-being. Citing the fact that 40 percent of children under five in Pakistan suffer from stunted growth, he warned that the country's future leadership is already at risk. He stressed that addressing stunting and learning poverty requires an integrated, end-to-end approach, encompassing nutrition, sanitation, clean drinking water, birth spacing, and greater awareness—all of which were discussed by scholars and experts at the event. The minister also highlighted the importance of empowering women, who constitute half the country's population, noting that inclusive workforce participation is essential for Pakistan's sustainable development. He reiterated the need to tackle learning poverty, especially among girls, and to invest meaningfully in education and skills development to enable women to contribute productively to the economy. He emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in national budgeting. Rather than compartmentalising federal and provincial finances, he proposed a unified, country-level approach to development spending. Citing this year's development budget of Rs1 trillion at the federal level and Rs4.2 trillion when including provinces, he noted that the real challenge is not the availability of funds but their optimal allocation and prioritisation. Aurangzeb also called for a reorientation of donor engagement and development financing. He remarked that while infrastructure had been the primary recipient of international funding in the past, it is now imperative to direct those resources toward human capital development, particularly in health, education, and population planning. He referenced Pakistan's 10-year Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank, noting that four out of its six pillars focus on population and climate-related issues. He informed the gathering that one-third of the total funding—amounting to nearly $20 billion over a decade, or around $600–700 million annually—will be dedicated to population-related measures. He urged that such resources must be strategically deployed, moving beyond symbolic steps like tax relief on contraceptives, and instead ensuring impactful investments across the board. The minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to prioritising long-term, sustainable solutions to Pakistan's population challenges and leveraging both domestic and international resources to build a healthier, more productive nation. He urged policymakers and development partners to go beyond traditional infrastructure investments and prioritise human capital development. 'We have built roads and power projects, but it's time to invest in people,' he said. 'This is the only way to ensure real, inclusive, and sustainable progress.' The event was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, as well as prominent religious scholars, members of civil society, and senior government officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Finance minister urges population as key criterion in NFC Award formula
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for the population to be recognised as a core allocation criterion in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The minister made these remarks at an event organised by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination at a local hotel in Islamabad today, in observance of World Population Day. He agreed with the views expressed by the Health and Planning Ministers, advocating for the inclusion of broader human development indices to guide equitable resource distribution between the federation and provinces. The NFC Award in Pakistan is a mechanism for distributing financial resources between the federal government and the provinces. It's established by Article 160 of the Constitution and involves a formula-based allocation of taxes and other revenues. Senator Aurangzeb also called for a reorientation of donor engagement and development financing. He remarked that while infrastructure had been the primary recipient of international funding in the past, it is now imperative to direct those resources toward human capital development, particularly in health, education, and population planning. Conflict with India won't have large fiscal impact, says Aurangzeb 'If we want to realise the dream of being a $3 trillion economy by 2047, we have to deal with two existential issues, i.e. climate change and population growth,' said Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb drew attention to Pakistan's population growth rate of 2.55% and its alarming implications for national development, economic planning, and social well-being. '40% of the children, below the age of five in Pakistan, suffer from stunted growth,' he said. Aurangzeb warned that the country's future leadership is already at risk. He stressed that addressing stunting and learning poverty requires an integrated, end-to-end approach, encompassing nutrition, sanitation, clean drinking water, birth spacing, and greater awareness—all of which were discussed by scholars and experts at the event. Similarly, a large chunk of the population, especially females, remains deprived of literacy, said Aurangzeb. 'Females account for at least 50% of the population; if they don't become a productive part of the workforce, then this country cannot move forward in a sustainable way,' he said. He emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in national budgeting. Rather than compartmentalising federal and provincial finances, he proposed a unified, country-level approach to development spending. Citing this year's development budget of Rs1 trillion at the federal level and Rs4.2 trillion when including provinces, he noted that the real challenge is not the availability of funds but their optimal allocation and prioritisation. He referenced Pakistan's 10-year Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank, noting that four out of its six pillars focus on population and climate-related issues. He informed the gathering that one-third of the total funding—amounting to nearly $20 billion over a decade, or around $600–700 million annually—will be dedicated to population-related measures. He urged that such resources must be strategically deployed, moving beyond symbolic steps like tax relief on contraceptives, and instead ensuring impactful investments across the board.
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Robust mechanisms stressed to oversee private hospitals
ISLAMABAD: The meeting of Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) was held under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani here on Monday. The committee held comprehensive discussions on a broad range of topics, including the regulation of private hospitals, healthcare standards and the functionality of key health institutions. The committee reviewed the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA)'s progress and stressed the need for robust mechanisms to oversee private hospitals. Members expressed concerns about unchecked pricing practices and called for collaboration with provincial healthcare commissions, particularly Punjab's, to establish effective pricing frameworks. The IHRA was directed to provide a complete list of private hospitals, details of regulations and an update on inquiries into specific cases. Addressing accountability, the committee emphasised the need for audits and performance checks for hospitals operating on government-allocated plots. A sub-committee was constituted under the convenor-ship of Dr Amjad Ali Khan with Sabheen Ghoury, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro and Dr Shaista Khan, as its members to examine gaps in IHRA's regulatory framework and oversee agreements with private hospitals to ensure compliance with welfare service obligations. The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) presented an overview of its services and challenges, highlighting the need for enhanced infrastructure and resources. Members praised the institute's contributions but raised concerns about hygiene, doctor attendance and patient care. The committee recommended measures to address staffing gaps, improve facility cleanliness and ensure equitable distribution of medical resources. On legislative matters, the committee deferred discussions on 'The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024' (moved by Abdul Qadir Patel), citing the absence of the minister in charge. However, members agreed to move forward with the deliberations in the next meeting. The mover authorised Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, to present the bill on his behalf. A discussion would then ensue to decide the bill's fate. Significant discussions were held on combating polio and ensuring stringent quality control for pharmaceutical products. Members also addressed discrepancies in the allocation of budgets and emphasised the need for thorough audits and reports on resource utilisation. The chair commended the progress made while underscoring the importance of timely actions and accountability. The meeting concluded with a commitment to advancing healthcare reforms and ensuring that public health services meet the highest standards of care and regulation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
