NA panel slams SCFHS for terminating services of Pakistan doctors

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Tuesday strongly condemned the removal of services of Pakistani doctors by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). Presiding over the fifth meeting of the committee, its chairman Khalid Hussain Magsi from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) termed the reports of sacking of Pakistani doctors, having Master of Surgery (MS) and Master of Medicine (MD) degrees, by the SCFHS as 'deeply disturbing and unnerving.'
"This is a very worrisome development. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have traditionally enjoyed very close and cordial ties. Such kind of moves can potentially affect this relationship," Magsi said. "Millions of Pakistanis are working in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. They contribute significantly to the economies of the host countries by providing them skilled manpower. Sacking the members of Pakistani community on evasive pretexts would only prove counterproductive and adversely influence the mutual ties between Pakistan and these countries," he remarked.
Earlier this month, the reports surfaced that Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain rejected Pakistan's MS and MD degrees programmes, a move that has reportedly rendered hundreds of Pakistani physicians in these countries jobless. In Tuesday meeting, the NA health panel observed that SCFHS proceeded to sack Pakistani doctors while acting on a fake report which suggested that Pakistani physicians lacked essential training components which were not covered in their degree programmes. The committee asked the government authorities to hold an enquiry on the issue and submit its report to the committee.
Moreover, the NA health committee expressed its concern over the non-compliance of its recommendations by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) in submitting the reasons for removal of four members of the PMDC board. The panel decided to approach the provincial governments and Prime Minister's Office to take up the matter. The committee passed Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2018, moved by Riaz Fatyana from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), without any amendment.
The NA health panel discussed the Federal Newborn Screening Bill, 2019, moved by Nafeesa Khattak from PTI, and asked the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to arrange a meeting with the mover to reach consensus on the proposed legislation and come up with the proposals for onward consideration of the committee. The NA panel also discussed the non-functional basic health units (BHUs) and dispensaries located in the rural areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The committee recommended to up-grade BHUs and dispensaries. It further recommended that priority should be given to local doctors and staff at the related BHUs and dispensaries.