A recent session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health, chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar, revealed alarming findings about nursing education in Pakistan. Fifty-five nursing colleges have been declared substandard, with none meeting the criteria for accreditation, according to the Secretary of Health.
During the meeting, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mukhtar Bharath, attended in place of Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. Committee Chairman Dr. Kumar referenced a private TV interview in which the federal minister appeared to acknowledge irregularities within the Pakistan Nursing Council. This was taken as a formal admission of issues in the sector.
The Health Secretary reported that, after inspecting 55 nursing institutions, not a single one was found to be fit for accreditation. A detailed report on the Pakistan Nursing Council’s performance is currently being compiled.
Dr. Bharath also highlighted concerns from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s tenure, stating that 15 medical colleges were accredited simultaneously by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)—a matter now under investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). A re-inspection process for these institutions is underway.
He further proposed that entry tests for medical colleges should be administered by provincial authorities, a suggestion supported by the committee. Committee member Abdul Qadir Patel emphasized that medical entry exams should be domicile-based, and separate testing or registration mechanisms should be considered for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Due to the absence of the federal health minister, Dr. Bharath requested that discussion on the Pharmacy Council Act be deferred until the minister himself could attend. This led to Abdul Qadir Patel walking out of the session in protest.
The committee also received a briefing on the National Institute of Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities (NIRM). It was noted that the facility provided treatment to thousands injured in the 2005 earthquake. The institute currently offers services including surgery, speech therapy, psychological care, and prosthetic development, and is capable of performing knee transplants. However, the lack of an emergency ward is a major challenge.
NIRM’s Executive Director informed the committee that they had requested Rs. 55 million for upgrades, but only Rs. 15 million has been allocated. The committee deemed the Rs. 50 million annual drug budget is insufficient, and suggested to seek support from Bait-ul-Mal (a public welfare fund). The session also included a discussion on monitoring fee structures at private hospitals.
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest education news, admissions updates, and scholarship alerts wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
Domicile based recruitments should be abolished at all levels esp at provincial levels, if continued, with rampant forged domiciles, matriculation board should be the gold standard where domicile based recruitments are practiced and candidates thus recruited should be obligated to serve their area of domicile.