Latest news with #MaheshKumarMalani
Express Tribune
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Curriculum reforms urged
Minority MPA Mahesh Kumar Malani, in a separate call-attention notice, objected to the ethics subject being exclusively assigned to non-Muslim students. "Ethics should be part of the curriculum for all students," he argued. "Non-Muslim students, including Christians, do not object to learning Islamiat, so why single them out?" He also demanded a separate educational board for the Christian community. In reply, Education Minister Sardar Shah stated that the current policy stems from the PTI government's Single National Curriculum, which the Sindh government had opposed. "Muslim students are taught Islamiat, and non-Muslims are taught Ethics. We reviewed the curriculum in 2022 and agree that further improvements are necessary," he said. He added that curriculum changes are a continual process globally, and since Hinduism originated in Sindh, the majority of non-Muslim students are Hindu. Responding to another call-attention notice from MQM MPA Najam Mirza regarding the Sindh Electronic Centralized College Admission Program (SECAP), Education Minister Sardar Shah said the policy has now been extended to the entire province. "Admissions are computerized and automatic, with no human interference," he clarified. He explained that priority is given to students with A-1 and A grades, particularly in high-demand colleges such as PECHS. "Previously, recommendations played a role in admissions, but that is no longer the case. People now request admissions in specific colleges, but not everyone can be accommodated," he said.
Business Recorder
25-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
NA body says concerned at polio resurgence
ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) expressing serious concerns over the resurgence of polio has recommended that to contain the disease besides vaccination the authorities must also take measures such as drainage, cleaning and environmental protection. The committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA said that it has been observed that steps like drainage cleaning and environmental protection were totally being ignored by local administrations. Members stressed that preventing polio required a holistic response, not just immunisation. Addressing the resurgence of polio, the committee noted that cases had re-emerged in south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Karachi due to poor sanitation and repeated failure to vaccinate large numbers of children due to security reasons and other such constraints. It was also observed that while the authorities were fully focusing on the vaccination drives, local governments were not playing their part to purge the area of polio. The committee held an extensive meeting on Thursday to examine pressing concerns related to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), medical education testing procedures, regulatory failures in the healthcare sector and ongoing policy issues regarding medicine procurement and public health. The committee expressed grave concern over the failure of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the Ministry of National Health Services to resolve the issue of students of Al-Nafees Medical College and directed the PMDC to immediately summon the students and university officials and resolve the matter amicably and to reach a merit-based within five days. Members observed that student careers had been put at risk due to administrative negligence and lack of coordination among PMDC, universities and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. The committee also discussed the matter of Pakistani students graduating from Kyrgyzstan and directed the PMDC that all students who had enrolled at the university during the period when the medical college was duly registered should be recognised without any further delay. 'The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (moved by Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA)' was deferred to the next meeting. On the issue of mental health legislation, the Committee recommended withdrawal of 'The Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024' (moved by Shaista Pervaiz, MNA) only on the assurance by the Ministry of NHSR&C that its provisions would be incorporated into the Allied Health Professionals Council Act, 2022, to avoid duplication. The committee directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to expedite recruitments process, and to ensure standardisation and price regulation of medical devices, including stents and lenses. It emphasised that there must be no compromise on quality and strictly prohibited the use of substandard instruments. The committee also sought an update on DRAP's digital licensing system and ongoing reforms. The committee deliberated on the longstanding administrative crisis at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), where allegations of staff absenteeism, ghost surgeries and internal victimisation were raised. The chairman dissolved the Sub-Committee on NIRM and decided that the issue would now be taken up in the main Standing Committee, where all stakeholders would be heard in an in-camera session. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
NA panel for more weightage to MDCAT in college admissions
The National Assembly standing committee on Health on Thursday proposed various reforms in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT), including increasing its weightage for the admission to the college. The committee met with its chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani in the chair. The meeting discussed matters pertaining to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the medical education examination system, regulatory failures in the healthcare sector and other issues. The committee raised serious questions over the reforms in the medical examinations and the performance of the PMDC. The committee was informed that MDCAD would be held on Sunday, October 5, throughout the country. The committee expressed concern over the lack of transparency, disparity between the exams boards and injustice in the MDCAT. It suggested that the weightage of the result of the MDCAT should be increased, so that deserving students could get opportunities to attain medical education. The committee also proposed a central examination system and the creation of a databank of about 3,000 to 4,000 standard questions for all the provinces. The committee also questioned an unfair de-registration of colleges by the PMDC, political interference and injustice in students' registration. The committee also discussed complaints about various medical colleges and hospitals. It directed for prompt action to resolve the problems facing the students who have graduated from Kyrgyzstan.
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- 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
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Spurious, sub-standard drugs: NA body grills DRAP
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC), Thursday, grilled the Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan (DRAP) for ineffective monitoring and failure to control the spread of spurious, unregistered and sub-standard drugs across the country. The committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA to discuss various pressing issues related to health, licensing of drugs, homeopathic and alternative drugs as well as three amendment bills. The committee disposed-off 'The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024', moved by Shaista Pervaiz, MNA. Whereas, the debate on 'The Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024', moved by Shaista Pervaiz Malik and 'The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024', moved by Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA were deferred due to absence of movers. Discussing the matters pertaining to the working and performance of the DRAP, the committee highlighted the acute shortage of resources, pending recruitments and the need for a robust regulatory framework to address pharmaceutical malpractice. It was recommended that rules for filling vacant positions in DRAP be expedited, alongside efforts to strengthen inspection mechanisms for pharmaceutical products and vaccines. Members also stressed the importance of harmonising drug licensing procedures to reduce delays and ensure the availability of quality-assured medicines. The committee urged DRAP to adopt a more proactive approach in monitoring drug efficacy, availability and pricing to safeguard public health interests. The committee members also recommended enhancing the existing penalties for non-compliance of standards. Additionally, the need to prioritize local manufacturing of essential vaccines was emphasised to minimise reliance on imports and ensure a steady supply. The committee commended DRAP for its efforts to digitize the drug licensing application process. It was noted that a standardised harmonised form has been developed to streamline licensing procedures. The committee emphasised the importance of establishing clear and stringent rules for drug licensing to enhance transparency and efficiency. Additionally, the committee directed DRAP to share the finalised licensing rules in the next meeting. Briefing the panel, Dr Obaidullah, chief executive officer (CEO) DRAP said that the organisation was facing serious shortage of staff not only at senior level but junior level, adding that monitoring and controlling of spurious, substandard and unregistered drugs was not only DRAP's responsibility but largely provincial governments' were responsible for it as health after 18th constitutional amendment was a devolved subject. He said that the DRAP was making all possible efforts to ensure effective regulation across the board and to deal with the staff shortage board has sent a summary to the federal government. The committee discussed several issues such as the regulation of food standards, healthcare governance and recruitment practices. The committee members expressed concerns over the Ministry of Science and Technology's delay in addressing unresolved matters related to food product standards, particularly the introduction of front-of-package warnings. Recognising the adverse health impacts of ultra-processed foods, the committee recommended imposing a levy on such products. The revenue generated would support health promotion initiatives aimed at combating non-communicable diseases. The issue of administrative inefficiencies and recruitment delays at institutions such as Polyclinic and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) was also discussed in depth. Members urged immediate action to ensure transparency and fairness in hiring practices. The committee directed the ministry to submit detailed reports on recruitment processes and measures to enhance institutional accountability in the next meeting. The meeting was attended by MNAs, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Sabheen Ghoury, Farah Naz Akbar, Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Aliya Kamran, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Shahram Khan, Dr Amjad Ali Khan, Shabbir Ali Qureshi, Azimud Din Zahid Lakhwi in person, whereas, Nisar Ahmed, MNA attended virtually. The minister for NHSR&C, the secretary along with senior officers from the ministry and its attached departments attended the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
