Press Release Title: Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House Islamabad.

Press Release Date: 21st August, 2025

The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services,Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, met to deliberate on key legislative and regulatory matters concerning healthcare,medical education,and public health. The meeting commenced with a discussion raised by Senator Fawzia Arshad regarding the issues related to MDCAT. The Committee was informed that the financial implications of pending cases since 2020 are being examined. It was noted that the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) will be held on 5th October, with over 150,000 candidates expected to participate. The Chairman Committee directed that robust monitoring mechanisms must be ensured, particularly in Sindh, to prevent paper leaks and irregularities, stressingthat students' futures cannot be compromised. The Minister (M/o National Health Services,Regulations and Coordination) assured that a secure pool of questions has been developed,provinces are being closely monitored, and additional safeguards have been introduced. The Committee considered legislative business, including the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill, 2025,and the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill, 2025, both introduced by Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand. Members debated the autonomy of the PMDC and whether parliamentary representation might dilute its independence. The Minister (M/o National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination) emphasized that regulatory institutions must remain free from political influence and function transparently.The Bill was deferred for further scrutiny. On the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Committee acknowledged the urgent need to bring psychologists under a regulatory framework. The Chairman Committee also endorsed the proposal, and the Bill was approved. The Committee also discussed the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Mover of the Bill, Senator Sarmad Ali called for urgent regulation of vaping, especially among youth, and proposed banning sales near educational institutions. The Chairman directed the Ministry to re-examine the bill in consultation with the mover and present revised proposals in light of outdated federal tobacco laws. On the issue of private medical colleges, members raised concerns about institutions charging fees far beyond the prescribed Rs. 1.8 million limit and failing to issue refunds.The Chairman Committee suggested that audit reports of colleges be obtained to ensure transparency, while the Minister committed to initiating inspections in Islamabad and reporting back to the Committee. Chairman Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti expressed serious displeasure over cartelization in the pharmaceutical sector, declaring that unprecedented price hikes driven by profiteering cannot be tolerated at the expense of public health. He noted that the government had embraced deregulation in good faith, with the aim of ensuring affordable public health. However, he suggested that if this cartelization does not end, and the purpose of deregulation is not achieved, we shall review the policy of deregulation. The Ministry briefed that an assessment of deregulation, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders,will be finalized by 18th September. The Minister admitted that while deregulation aimed to promote competition, it has failed to deliver relief and instead triggered anti-competitive practices.He assured that the government will revisit the policy if found harmful to consumers. The Chairman Committee concluded the meeting by underlining that safeguarding public health is paramount and directed that the matter of drug pricing be reconsidered in the Committee after the assessment report is submitted in September. Among those present were Senators Mohammad Humayun Mohmand,Fawzia Arshad,Syed Masroor Ahsan, Irfan ul Haque Siddiqui, Sarmad Ali, the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services,Regulations and Coordination, Consultant to Senate Standing Committee, and officials from the concerned departments.