RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination has recommended that Capital Development Authority (CDA) should take measures to allot land to National Council for Tibb for construction of its head office.

The committee met here at the ministry with Dr Hafeez-ur-Rehman Khan Drishak in the chair. The committee discussed the performance of the National Council for Tibb and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, ‘The HIV/AIDS (Safety and Control) Bill, 2013’ and ‘The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health (Amendment) Bill, 2017.’ The committee took briefing about the performance of National Council for Tibb. The committee members expressed satisfaction over the progress of the council. Furthermore, the committee recommended that the CDA should take measures to allot land to the council for constructing its head office in Islamabad.

“The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health (Amendment) Bill, 2017” moved by Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, MNA, was withdrawn by the mover on the recommendation of the committee as the recent SRO issued by the ministry has served the same purpose for which the said bill was moved in the National Assembly. Whereas, the committee deferred ‘The HIV/AIDS (Safety and Control) Bill, 2013’ moved by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu, MNA, till its next meeting as mover of the bill was not present in the meeting.

The committee while receiving the briefing from registrar of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council recommended, “We are pending this briefing for the next meeting so that any higher authority should represent the institute and may give briefing on election of chairman PM&DC, substandard medical education being imparted in the colleges controlled by PMDC and whether or not uniformity in fee is being ensured. The representative should also brief the committee about whether or not rules are being followed in running the PM&DC properly.” All above issues will be included in the next meeting’s agenda items, the committee said.

Later, the committee paid visit to National Institute of Health (NIH) where executive director NIH gave a briefing about the ongoing projects, working and performance of the Institute, The committee appreciated the progress of NIH and encouraged the institute for its future endeavours.

The committee unanimously confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on 28-02-2018. Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Shakila Khalid Luqman, Zehra Wadood Fatemi, Col Dr Amirullah Marwat (retd), Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan (member/mover) and Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan attended the meeting, besides senior officers from Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, National Council for Tibb and National Institute of Health.