KARACHI: A Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) delegation raised various issues facing the medical community and the health sector in Sindh at a meeting with caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz.
The delegation comprised office-bearers of PMA Centre, PMA Karachi and senior members of the association.
During the meeting, PMA secretary general Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, briefed the minister about the
longstanding issues like shortage of medicine in hospitals, doctors’ security, protection of patients’ rights, issues of healthcare commission, anti-quackery campaign, registration of the healthcare providers, promotion of doctors, issues of PPHI, banning chalia/gutka and smoking in the province, particularly on the premises of educational institutes.
Dr Shoro demanded that no FIR be lodged against any doctor without the approval of the Sindh Healthcare Commission and immediate registration of cases against those resorting to violence against medical professional under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
A delegation member, Dr Qazi Wasiq, stressed the need for actively initiating cornea donation programme in the province to create public awareness in this regard.
PMA lauded the minister for initiating audit of 13 major hospitals in Sindh.
The minister informed the delegates about the provincial government’s future strategy to bring betterment of health delivery system in the province.
He said all the hospitals in the province have been directed to ensure transparency in purchase of medicines, adding that a credential committee would be constituted to approve all drug purchases
by the hospitals.
Answering a question, the minister said he was in contact with the Anti Narcotic Force (ANF) to ensure elimination of drug use in educational institutions in the province.
