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: 5th January, 2026

The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination met under the Chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti to consider private members’ bills referred by the honourable House, discuss issues related to the attestation of doctors’ documents through IBCC, matters concerning the Burn Centre at PIMS, and review the implementation status of the Committee’s recommendations regarding PIMS and the School of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU). The meeting was attended by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Rahat Jamali, Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, and Senator Sarmad Ali, while Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan participated via Zoom. First Agenda Item was about the private members bill titled, “The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduced by Senator Humayun Mohmand. Since the mover wasn’t present in the meeting today so the agenda item was deferred.  The Committee also discussed “The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” which seeks to regulate medicine prices. Highlighting the sharp increase in medicine prices, the Chairman emphasized the need for effective regulation in the public interest, stressing that essential medicines must remain affordable for the common man. The Federal Minister for Health Services informed the Committee that a medicine pricing policy is under consideration and that prices would be stabilized soon. Upon his request, the discussion on the bill was deferred. Third Agenda Item was about the private members bill titled, “The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduced by Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan. Since it was of the honorary nature & the mover wasn’t present physically in the meeting today so the agenda item was deferred & will be taken up in the next meeting. “The Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Regulation) Bill, 2025” was discussed in detail. The Committee expressed serious concern over the widespread availability and use of electronic nicotine devices, including vapes, particularly among children under the age of 18. While endorsing the intent of the bill, the Federal Minister for Health Services suggested that the Ministries of Commerce and Industries be taken on board to ensure a comprehensive framework. The Chairman directed the Ministry of Health and the Director General (Health) to coordinate with the mover of the bill to further refine the draft. The Committee also deliberated upon difficulties faced by senior doctors in the attestation, verification, and equivalence of educational documents through IBCC. It was clarified that only documents issued prior to 2023 are being re-verified by PMDC through IBCC, whereas equivalence certificates issued after 2023 carry QR codes and do not require re-verification. Regarding a complaint against a delinquent officer currently posted in Lahore, the Federal Minister assured the Committee that an inquiry would be conducted and strict action taken. The Chairman directed that the officer be suspended during the inquiry to ensure transparency and impartiality. Issues pertaining to the Burn Centre at PIMS were also discussed. After hearing all stakeholders, the Chairman directed the Federal Minister for Health Services to examine the matter and resolve it amicably, emphasizing that PIMS is a national asset that must be safeguarded. The Committee further reviewed the compliance status of its recommendations concerning PIMS and SZABMU’s Dental Hospital and was informed that the issues had been resolved in accordance with the Committee’s directives.  The Chairman directed that under the PIMS Act of 2023 this issue be resolved. The Committee was also briefed on the government’s initiative for indigenous vaccine production in collaboration with various countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. Appreciating these efforts, the Committee assured its full support in the national interest.   Finally, the Chairman announced the formation of a Vigilance Committee to monitor PIMS, Polyclinic Hospital, and other government health institutions in Islamabad to address public grievances. Committee will be headed by Senator Masroor Ahsan, Senator Rahat Jamali, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri & Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan being the members. The Federal Minister welcomed the initiative and assured complete cooperation.