Latest news with #IHRA
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
Robust mechanisms stressed to oversee private hospitals
ISLAMABAD: The meeting of Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) was held under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani here on Monday. The committee held comprehensive discussions on a broad range of topics, including the regulation of private hospitals, healthcare standards and the functionality of key health institutions. The committee reviewed the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA)'s progress and stressed the need for robust mechanisms to oversee private hospitals. Members expressed concerns about unchecked pricing practices and called for collaboration with provincial healthcare commissions, particularly Punjab's, to establish effective pricing frameworks. The IHRA was directed to provide a complete list of private hospitals, details of regulations and an update on inquiries into specific cases. Addressing accountability, the committee emphasised the need for audits and performance checks for hospitals operating on government-allocated plots. A sub-committee was constituted under the convenor-ship of Dr Amjad Ali Khan with Sabheen Ghoury, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro and Dr Shaista Khan, as its members to examine gaps in IHRA's regulatory framework and oversee agreements with private hospitals to ensure compliance with welfare service obligations. The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) presented an overview of its services and challenges, highlighting the need for enhanced infrastructure and resources. Members praised the institute's contributions but raised concerns about hygiene, doctor attendance and patient care. The committee recommended measures to address staffing gaps, improve facility cleanliness and ensure equitable distribution of medical resources. On legislative matters, the committee deferred discussions on 'The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024' (moved by Abdul Qadir Patel), citing the absence of the minister in charge. However, members agreed to move forward with the deliberations in the next meeting. The mover authorised Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, to present the bill on his behalf. A discussion would then ensue to decide the bill's fate. Significant discussions were held on combating polio and ensuring stringent quality control for pharmaceutical products. Members also addressed discrepancies in the allocation of budgets and emphasised the need for thorough audits and reports on resource utilisation. The chair commended the progress made while underscoring the importance of timely actions and accountability. The meeting concluded with a commitment to advancing healthcare reforms and ensuring that public health services meet the highest standards of care and regulation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
‘Jim Crow Jewish supremacists': Union leader faces complaint over anti-Israel posts
Article content 'Oh and people don't find your racial supremacy cute or inspiring, you Jim Crow hacks,' he responds to one user a minute later. Article content Prier argues against the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The non-legally binding definition deems comparing Jews or Israel to the Nazis and classic tropes of Jewish control of finance as antisemitic. Article content 'Gaza is like the Warsaw Ghetto (there I've violated IHRA),' he writes, taking aim at the definition adopted by dozens of countries, the federal government and several provinces. Article content Asked for comment, Prier wrote a short statement to the Post acknowledging the now-deleted account was operated by him. Article content 'What's happening in Israel and Palestine is a deeply emotional issue for many people, including me,' Prier wrote, adding he's 'always been clear that I believe in justice for Palestinians and fighting antisemitism. I support a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza.' Article content Article content Article content Laura Gauthier, the senior communications adviser of CAPE, said the union would not comment on internal matters involving members or staff. Article content 'All complaints are handled in accordance with applicable laws and internal policies, which are designed to ensure confidentiality and fairness,' she said in a note to the Post. Article content Luffman's complaint argues that Prier's conduct violated CAPE's Code of Ethics for Elected or Appointed Officers, specifically bylaws pertaining to harassment and slander. She is calling for Prier's resignation, because his 'statements exemplify a distorted and racist view of Jews and the national movement with which the vast majority of them in Canada identify.' Article content Article content She denounced Prier's language as 'horribly vile,' writing he 'denies legitimacy to the Jewish people, uses derogatory language to depict Jews as supremacists, echoes tropes of Jewish control or dominance, makes comparisons of Jews confined in the Warsaw Ghetto to Israeli policy, and crosses the line from critique to vilification.' Article content The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) echoed Luffman's call, telling the Post the organization lacked confidence in Prier's leadership to represent CAPE's diverse constituency fairly. Article content 'The use of antisemitic tropes and hostile language by Nathan Prier raises serious questions about fitness to represent a diverse union membership and alignment with the Public Service Code of Values and Ethics,' CIJA general counsel Richard Marceau wrote the Post. Article content 'The fact that he is using a hidden identity speaks to (a) lack of transparency at a minimum, but also to a completely unacceptable level of dishonesty for someone in such an important position. In brief, if accountability has any meaning, Nathan Prier should resign from his position.' Article content Luffman remains hopeful her complaint will trigger an external investigation, but sees Prier's behaviour as part of a troubling pattern within CAPE, the country's third-largest federal public service union representing over 20,000 members. In November 2023, Prier's predecessor, Camille Awada, resigned after anti-Israel social media posts he allegedly made years earlier began circulating among union members. Article content Article content 'The European Zionists are the true Aryan race. They look down at the world as if we are cattle. Israel is the illegitimate Zionist terrorist apartheid state that is the root of all evil!' Awada reportedly wrote on Facebook in January 2019. A few days earlier, he reportedly referred to Israel as that 'illegitimate Zionist lunatic terrorist apartheid state.' Article content Luffman received confirmation that her complaint was registered on Wednesday, but said in a brief written comment she did not wish to weigh in on the story as the investigation unfolds. Article content 'I have faith in the process and look forward to receiving the report from the third-party investigator,' she maintained.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israeli Gunfire As Desperate Palestinian Crowds Swarm U.S.-backed Gaza Aid Site
FULL: 'Gazans Not Don't Exercise': Netanyahu's Shocker As Israel Faces Fire Over Aid Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shoots down claims of mass starvation in Gaza during an address to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Conference, chaired by Israel, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. He said that Israel has supplied about 1.8 million tons of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza and 'this means that there cannot be mass starvation at all.' However, he went a step further to explain with an example of Palestinian prisoners. He claimed that there hasn't been a single case of emaciated prisoners but it's quite the opposite as they don't get much exercise. Watch his full speech here. 1.5K views | 7 hours ago
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
FULL: 'Gazans Not Starving...They Don't Exercise': Netanyahu's Shocker As Israel Faces Fire Over Aid
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shoots down claims of mass starvation in Gaza during an address to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Conference, chaired by Israel, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. He said that Israel has supplied about 1.8 million tons of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza and 'this means that there cannot be mass starvation at all.' However, he went a step further to explain with an example of Palestinian prisoners. He claimed that there hasn't been a single case of emaciated prisoners but it's quite the opposite as they don't get much exercise. Watch his full speech here. Read More
The National
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Labour silent on Israeli government's 'antisemitism summit' invitation
Israel's foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa'ar, suggested that UK ministers may be in attendance during a speech on Thursday, given in the wake of the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington DC the previous day. Sa'ar said that a 'direct line connects antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement' to the murders, adding: 'This incitement also includes official representatives of many countries and international organisations, particularly in Europe.' Israel foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar speaking on Thursday (Image: Israeli government) He went on: 'I say today to world leaders … Stop the incitement against Israel. Stop the false accusations. Support Israel in the historic campaign that has been forced upon it against the axis of evil in the Middle East.' The Israeli foreign minister then said: 'This is an appropriate opportunity to announce the conference against antisemitism that we will hold here in Jerusalem in the middle of next week, within the framework of the Israeli presidency of IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance]. 'The conference will be attended by foreign ministers and other ministers of IHRA member states, envoys to combat antisemitism, and representatives of Jewish communities from these countries.' There are 35 IHRA member states, including the UK. It is the highest level of membership, above liaison countries and observer countries. The UK previously held the IHRA presidency, and hosted two plenary meetings of its member countries last year, most recently in December. READ MORE: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu claims Keir Starmer 'wants Hamas to remain in power' Labour have ramped up the rhetoric on Israel in recent days, cancelling trade deal talks with the country and branding the country's government "extremists". However, they continue to license the export of military equipment and send spy planes over Gaza. Asked if UK Government ministers would be attending the Israeli summit, the Foreign Office declined to comment. In January, Foreign Secretary David Lammy undertook a secret visit to Israel which was only revealed when it was publicised by the Israeli government. Foreign Secretary David Lammy with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar during a secret visit to the country in January (Image: Gideon Sa'ar/Twitter) The UK Government did not disclose Lammy's visit or meeting with Sa'ar until after it had been reported in The National and other media. In April, Sa'ar then visited the UK and met Lammy in another secret trip that was also not publicised by the Labour Government. Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP told The National: 'Antisemitism is a hugely important issue and all responsible governments should work to oppose it. However, attending a conference held by the far-right ethno-nationalist Israeli government would be taken as an endorsement of its genocidal actions. READ MORE: Labour refuse to say who Foreign Office minister met on Israel trip 'The only priority right now for engagement with Benjamin Netanyahu's regime is about ending the blockade of humanitarian aid and demanding a permanent ceasefire, to end suffering and allow the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives. 'Any meeting with Israeli officials should be on record and announced ahead of time. Holding visits or meetings and only disclosing them after the fact is unacceptable. 'There should be a complete change of practice by the UK Government, where engagement with the Israeli government only takes place with the urgent aim of achieving a just and lasting peace.' The Foreign Office further did not respond to a separate request for comment on the Israeli government's conference.
