Karachi : Muttahida Quami Movement Senator Abdul Haseeb on Thursday boycotted the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Health against what he called lack of interest of the federal health minister, health secretary and director general health to solve the problems related to healthcare sector, and not attending the standing committee meeting.
The meeting was held at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) here Thursday; however, the MQM senator opted not to attend it.
Later talking to media, Senator Abdul Haseeb alleged that the federal ministry for health was not serious to solve public health problems. He said federal health ministry was also main hurdle in devolving the federal government run hospitals to provincial government as per the spirit of the 18th constitutional amendment. He said the vested interests were against the real provincial autonomy.
“A deadline of June 30, 2001 is given to implement the provincial autonomy after approval of the 18th amendment, however, the federal health ministry lack seriousness to implement it in letter and spirit,” said he.
He added that the draft of Drug Regularity Authority for the registration of medicines was prepared and after its approval by parliament, the matter of registration of would be handled by the federal government.
Senator Haseeb demanded that the newly constructed emergency department of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Karachi should be opened at the earliest. “Patients are facing great difficulties, due to delay in inauguration of the emergency department.”
He said the emergency department was completed one and a half months ago; however, it is yet to be opened for patients. As a result, patients are facing a lot of problems.
He demanded the administration ensure early inauguration of the department without further delay.
Meanwhile, the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Health was held at the NICVD. Senator Kulsum Perveen, Senator Khalid Soomro, Senator Saeeda Iqbal and others attended the meeting. PPI
