ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (APP): The Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, raised serious concerns over gaps in HIV reporting weak regulatory oversight and lack of preparedness on development schemes flagging missing data alleged irregularities in the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council and describing the Ministry’s handling of ongoing Public Sector Development Programme schemes as alarming.
While reviewing the HIV situation the committee observed serious deficiencies in the report submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, noting that several requested details were missing including provincial HIV data from Balochistan.
Members were informed that under the National AIDS Programme an estimated 300 to 500 dollars was spent annually per patient though this was not reflected in the documents shared with the committee.
The committee noted that around 350,000 HIV patients had been reported from Sindh and Punjab indicating an increase of nearly 75 percent.
It was further informed that 20,000 new cases were reported in 2018 and 2019 while 9,700 cases were recorded in the first nine months of 2024.
Members expressed concern over the absence of treatment progress information for patients identified at Nishtar Hospital and missing data relating to hundreds of reported cases from Kot Momin in District Sargodha during 2018 and 2019.
It was highlighted that 24,000 patients were registered for HIV treatment in 2019 while the minister clarified that at present only 84,000 individuals were under treatment nationwide raising questions about gaps between diagnosis registration and continued care.
The committee stressed that several aspects including causal factors funding details and outcome reporting were inadequately reflected in the Ministry’s submission.
Responding to the concerns the minister said the rise in reported cases was largely due to expanded testing capacity with screening centres increased from 24 to 127 leading to higher detection and reporting.
He said several positive steps had been taken during his tenure and should be properly reflected.
The committee sought a comprehensive report on initiatives undertaken and directed that a consolidated progress update be presented at the next meeting.
The committee also examined regulatory oversight issues including outdated information sharing and lack of enforcement reporting by healthcare regulatory authorities in Islamabad urging the Ministry to ensure comprehensive documentation and factual ground assessments in future submissions.
Deliberations on the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Ordinance 2025 were deferred after the minister remarked that the war is still on and proposed that the matter be taken up in a subsequent in camera meeting.
Members raised concerns that some newly constituted council members from Gilgit Baltistan and Balochistan allegedly possessed fake degrees or lacked required qualifications and sought verification.
The Ministry requested documentary evidence and said a report would be shared.
On development spending members expressed grave concern over the Ministry’s lack of preparedness regarding ongoing PSDP schemes calling the situation alarming and demanding detailed briefings and documentation from relevant authorities in forthcoming meetings.