News Detail
Event 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.
Event Date: 2026-10-20
Senate Health Committee Unanimously Approves Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026; Directs Inquiry into MDCAT Examination Complaints
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, deliberated on the Private Member Bill titled "the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026", the inquiry report concerning complaints regarding the MDCAT 2026 examination, compliance by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on directives concerning formula milk advertisements.
The meeting was attended by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Anusha Rehman, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Senator Shahzaib Durrani and Senator Nasir Mehmood, along with senior officials of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and other relevant departments.
At the outset, members and ministry officials congratulated Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti on his election to the Standing Committee on Health at a recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference, describing the achievement as a significant milestone for Pakistan's parliamentary diplomacy.
During consideration of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the ministry proposed incorporating a related legislative matter concerning blood transfusion regulations into the bill. The chairman and committee members questioned the proposal, observing that the matter should be dealt with through separate legislation, particularly as the bill under consideration had already undergone extensive deliberations. The ministry clarified that it had no objection to the Private Member Bill. Following detailed discussion, the committee unanimously approved the bill.
The committee reviewed the inquiry report concerning complaints and concerns raised by candidates regarding the conduct of MDCAT 2026. PMDC officials briefed the committee on the inquiry process and maintained that no irregularities or anomalies had been found in the examination.
However, members questioned how an inquiry into complaints of such significance could be completed within a single day. They also highlighted candidates' complaints regarding alleged out-of-syllabus questions, discrepancies in the examination and other concerns affecting the fairness and transparency of the process.
The committee expressed particular concern over the PMDC's practice of collecting question booklets from candidates after the examination and not allowing them to retain copies for their own reference. Members questioned why the question paper was not made public and reiterated that the question bank and examination process must be transparent to enable candidates to prepare effectively and ensure that merit is upheld.
PMDC officials explained that retaining the question booklets was intended to protect the question bank and prevent candidates appearing in subsequent years from gaining any unfair advantage. The committee, however, did not accept this justification and strongly emphasized the need for greater transparency and public access to examination questions.
Members recalled that the committee had recommended in the previous year that MDCAT question bank should be made publicly available. They also urged PMDC to implement the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee's Sub-committee on MDCAT, emphasizing that all necessary measures must be taken to ensure a fair, transparent and merit-based examination system.
The committee further questioned PMDC's recent policy requiring students intending to pursue medical education abroad to take MDCAT that was later withdrawn after conduct of MDCAT exam after interference of the Senate Standing Committee. Members sought clarification regarding the rationale behind the policy and whether any accountability measures had been taken in connection with its formulation.
Taking serious note of the matter, Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti directed PMDC to make the recent MDCAT question paper public within three days and implement the recommendations contained in the Sub-Committee's report. Expressing dissatisfaction with the inquiry report, he directed the Ministry of National Health Services to conduct a fresh inquiry into the complaints within one week and submit its findings to the committee. He warned that failure to address the matter satisfactorily would result in referral of the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation.
The committee also reviewed compliance by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) with the committee's earlier directives concerning the advertisement and promotion of formula milk.
The PEMRA Chairperson informed the committee that the directives had been implemented, including the airing of disclaimers following formula milk advertisements and public service messages promoting breastfeeding. However, the committee was informed that the disclaimer's voice-over had not been aired because of objections raised by television channels and other relevant organizations.
Members expressed reservations over the absence of a voice-over disclaimer, emphasizing that the committee's earlier directions clearly required the disclaimer to be communicated effectively as part of the advertisement. They observed that merely airing a written disclaimer did not adequately fulfil the purpose of informing the public.
The committee stressed that PEMRA must ensure compliance with its directives and, where necessary, prohibit formula milk advertisements if the required voice-over disclaimer was not incorporated. After detailed deliberations, Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti directed PEMRA that they should implement our previous directive as well as our current on formula milk , & the new media campaign should be according to our directions as well.
The chairman also directed the Ministry of National Health Services to improve and update its animated public service message promoting breastfeeding within three days to make it more effective and impactful.
The committee emphasized that these matters were important and required detailed consideration, expressing its resolve to take them up in a forthcoming meeting to address the concerns raised and improve healthcare service delivery and professional recognition.