ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) on Tuesday passed two important bills following which members of the health fraternity have become hopeful that the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Act at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) would be abolished soon.

It is worth mentioning here that the committee, chaired by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, had to discuss two bills titled ‘The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Bill 2022’ and ‘The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Bill 2022’ moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Saleem Mandviwalla on Aug 1.

The house had referred both bills to the standing committee with a suggestion to consider and report within two days but during its last meeting, held on Aug 3, the committee chairman refused to hold voting on the matter and announced to adjourn the meeting despite severe protest by senators of the coalition government parties.

Later, members of the coalition government parties moved a no-confidence motion against the chairman.

On Tuesday, the committee chairman did not try to adjourn the meeting and tried to defend the MTI by saying that he himself went to Pims and accepted all demands of the employees.

PPP Senator Rubina Khalid said she had already showed concerns regarding MTI. Another PPP Senator Bahramand Tangi said all the groups of Pims had different opinions.

Independent Senator Mohammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo said the MTI was just introduced so it was too early to judge that it was bad for the system.

Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel said strike was being observed at Pims on a daily basis and he runs from pillar to post to call it off, adding that experiments should not be done with the hospital.

“Doctors will start focusing on evening patients due to monitory benefits. So we should accept that the MTI was made in haste,” he said.

The committee chairman said private practice would address the issues of funds for Pims and doctors would start practicing in the hospital rather than sitting in other hospitals in the evening.

Chairman of Young Consultants Association Pakistan Dr Asfandyar Khan, while talking to Dawn, said because of MTI, employees of the hospital had lost the status of civil servants.

“Although, the new bill was earlier passed by the NA but some of the amendments have been done in the bill, as per which employees will be civil servants, so once it will be passed from the upper house, the bill will be sent to NA again.

“We urge the Senate chairman to get the bill passed at the earliest,” he said.

Dr Haider Abbasi of Pims also appreciated passage of the bill and said that it will be in the best interest of employees and patients. He also announced to call of the strike which was going on in Pims for the last five days.

Later, committee members passed the PMDC Bill 2022 and referred it to the upper house for voting. Once it will be passed by the Senate, the PMC will be abolished, after getting a nod from President of Pakistan, as earlier the NA had also passed the PMDC Bill 2022.

The bill suggests abolishing National Licencing Exam for doctors which is held after completion of graduation and is necessary to for clinical practice. Moreover, Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Tests (MDCAT) will also be held at the provincial level rather than at the national level.

Meanwhile, Mr Mandviwalla, commenting on the passage of bills, said that PPP fulfilled its promise with the medical fraternity.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2022