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KARACHI, Jan 15: The Private Hospitals and Clinics Association at an emergency meeting has resolved that the contributions to Sessi for health-care facilities were unlawful and its members should stop paying to Sessi immediately.
The meeting of the association was held with its president Dr Mohammad Ali Shah in the chair to consider the problems hospitals and clinics in the private sector were facing.
It was observed at the meeting that irrelevant and illogical taxes on hospitals had been imposed, which should be withdrawn immediately for smooth running of health-delivery facilities in the private sector, which shouldered the burden of more than 70 per cent of community health-care services.
The meeting resolved that the Sessi contribution by hospitals and clinics were unlawful as industrial and commercial employees ordinance, 1968 did not include the name of health-care centres/clinics in it. All clinics and hospitals should stop contributing to the Sessi fund immediately, said a press release issued on Monday.
Regarding the EOBI contribution, the association resolved that the contribution should be at the previous rate and any enhancement in the rate was unacceptable.
It was further said at the meeting that the KESC tariff for clinic/hospital was on a commercial basis, while clinics or hospitals were sort of emergency service providers.
The tariff should be decreased and should be in-between residential and commercial rates, the association demanded.
Another resolution pertained to the conversion of plots for hospital use. It was said that the rates should be at par with those implemented in Punjab. Taxes imposed by the CDGK on hospitals or clinics and health-care centres were illogical and irrelevant and should be abolished immediately, the press release added.
The association said that the import of new or used equipment and instruments for the hospitals and clinics be made tax free.
SYMPOSIUM: Speakers at a symposium on critical care in maternal medicine have stressed the need for developing skilled hands for baby deliveries in the country.
The symposium was organised by the Liaquat National Hospital for two days on its premises.
Dr Shagufta Tahir, the convener of the symposium, said that the symposium would go a long way as far as the development of gynaecology and obstetrics was concerned.
She further said that 70 per cent child birth cases were unattended by any trained or skilled midwives.
Dr Rashid Latif from Lahore, Dr Farrukh Zaman, Dr Haleema Hashmi, Dr Shershah Syed, Dr Zehra Naqvi, Dr Ghazala Mahmood and Dr Shaheen Zafar also spoke at the symposium. Sheema Kirmani staged an art drama titled “Meri Zindagi Ka Safar”, covering cultural, social and other taboo issues affecting the health of young girls and also rampant attitude linked to child birth and pregnancy.
