ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations on Monday expressed serious concern over the failure of the Health Ministry and the management of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to register an FIR against those staff responsible for the fire incident at PIMS’s children’s nursery, where 14 newborns lost their lives.
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations met here under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti to discuss various health ministry-related issues, including problems being faced by the student of Balochistan at Health Services Academy (HAS), PIMS fire incident and Islamabad Health Regulatory Authority (IHRA).
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri slammed the health ministry and other concerned quarters over their failure to register a criminal case against the officials responsible for the PIMS children nursery fire incident.
Responding to the concerns of the committee members, senior Health Ministry officials, including Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal and Secretary Health, informed the panel that a letter had been written to the Ministry of Interior requesting registration of an FIR.
The Committee observed that the PIMS administration and Health Ministry itself should lodge the FIR with the concerned police station instead of requesting the Ministry of Interior to do so.
Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan questioned whether DNA tests of the burnt babies and their parents had been conducted before handing over the dead bodies. PIMS authorities informed the Committee that the 14 bodies had been handed over to their respective parents and that the children were identified through identification bands. The Committee expressed serious concern over the claim that identification bands and written names remained intact despite the bodies having been burnt.
Taking serious notice of the alleged negligence, the Committee directed that an FIR be registered against the responsible officers and recommended that the names of the concerned officers be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), in accordance with law.
The Committee considered the Bill titled “The Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026.” Health Minister Kamal informed the Committee that the provisions proposed in the bill were already part of the existing Act but had not been implemented.
Senator Zehri observed that the matter required immediate attention, particularly in view of overcharging by private hospitals. She said that effective regulation of healthcare facilities was essential, especially for the common and underprivileged segments of society.
The Minister informed that the Prime Minister is the competent authority for constitution of the IHRA Board and that large-scale recruitment was required to make the Authority fully functional, since a large number of resignations have been received from the IHRA Board since the PIMS fire incident. The agenda item was deferred until the next meeting.
Senator Jan Muhammad, moving the agenda regarding the problems being faced by Balochistan students at the HSA, Islamabad, informed the committee that the students were facing difficulties in getting certification from HSA and the Nursing Council.
Responding to the committee member, Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations Mustafa Kamal informed that the Nursing Council had resolved the matter in consultation with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and that their degrees would soon be recognized. He also informed that the students were now eligible for admission to the fifth semester in the place of their choosing.
The Committee reviewed implementation of its earlier directives issued to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) regarding advertisements and promotion of formula milk. The committee was informed that the statement had been incorporated in the advertisements and packaging of Lactogen and NIDO and that the message had also been aired on various television and radio channels. However, the committee found the presentation of the PEMRA chairman to be unsatisfactory and directed her to fully comply with the committee recommendations in the future.
The committee reviewed the campaign and observed the broadcast of the message on different media channels. Chairman further directed that a voice-over conveying the same message should also form part of formula milk advertisements and the statement “There is no substitute for Mother’s Milk” be printed in Urdu on all formula milk packaging.
It further directed the Health Ministry to develop a 30-second public service message promoting breastfeeding and hand it over to PEMRA for airing during television transmissions. Minister fully acknowledged the committee’s recommendation.
Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan also raised the issue of nursing students serving as interns at Federal Government Polyclinic under the clinical internship programme. He pointed out that the interns had not received their stipends from May to August 2026. The committee directed that the matter be urgently resolved and a report submitted at its next meeting.
Discussing the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme offered by local medical and dental colleges, the Committee stressed that the BDS degree should comprise four years plus one year of house job, instead of five years plus one year.
The Committee directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to issue a public notice in this regard through its official website and social media platforms.
The Health Ministry briefed the committee on the grievances of holders of degrees in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry regarding exclusion and non-recognition of their qualifications under the Allied Health Professionals Council Act, 2022.
It was further informed that a committee constituted by the Council had proposed that degree holders in the concerned disciplines undergo an additional one-year study program due to deficiencies in their existing curricula.
The committee members rejected the proposal to extend the duration of study by one year for individuals who had already obtained degrees in the concerned fields.
The Committee also adopted the report of its Sub-Committee regarding the MDCAT examination. Senator Anusha Rehman showed serious resentment over the PMDC’s performance in the past. She mentioned that PMDC is acting beyond its jurisdiction and without the formal approval from the Health ministry, PMDC was issuing notices and communication with each other on Email rather than physical meetings.
However, they should submit their recommendation to the federal ministry to get the approval first.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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