KPK passes MTI amendment Act by majority votes

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly Friday approved Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Amendment Act by majority votes as opposition benches made hue and cry over its passage in haste by the ruling benches.

At the outset of assembly when the amendments was tabled, Sardar Hussain Babak of ANP said that rather passing the bill in haste treasury benches should consult opposition over the bill.

Leader of the opposition, Akram Khan Durrani said that MTI Act has many loopholes and proposals of the opposition should be sought.

He said that people and young doctor have serious reservations over the bill. He alleged that laws were being changed due to pressure of certain quarters that would produce adverse results.

Inayat Ullah of MMA and some other opposition members also said that the bill should be handed over to select committee for deliberations.

Responding to the criticism by opposition benches, Provincial Health Minister, Hasham Inam Ullah said the bill was not tabled under pressure, adding, the government would pass the bill as referring it to select committee would delay the legislation. The health minister opposed referring of the bill to select committee.

He said that the government had been mandated by people to represent them in assemblies and their rights would be safeguarded and not that of the doctors. He categorically told the house that doctors and allied staff of the health facilities would be held accountable.

The government was neither afraid of strikes nor the doctors community could refrain us from introducing reforms in health sector. He defended passage of health reforms by the house would improve the health delivery system.

The opposition member stage a token walkout from the house over not referring the bill to select committee by the chair.

Later Sahibzada Sanaullah of PPP opposed the passage of the bill however, the government passed the MTI amendment bill from the house by majority votes.