“Prioritise Patients Over Projects”: Standing Committee Rejects Most New Health Schemes, Calls for Focus on Diabetes, HIV, Hepatitis and Neonatal Mortality-Members’ Valuable Input Commended by Chairman and Ministry.

Islamabad, the 24th January, 2026:  The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) met under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, to consider the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) proposals for the Financial Year 2025–26 and review ongoing and proposed projects of the Ministry and its attached departments. The Committee examined 33 new projects, including 19 Ministry schemes and 10 Prime Minister’s directives.

2. The Committee issued a clear direction that national health resources must be redirected from excessive infrastructure expansion towards addressing the most pressing health crises facing the country. The Chairman emphasised that diabetes, HIV, Hepatitis C, neonatal mortality and malnutrition must be treated as national emergencies. The Committee stressed that prevention, screening, treatment and measurable disease reduction outcomes should take precedence over construction of new buildings and expansion of non-critical infrastructure.

3. The Committee rejected most of the newly proposed PSDP schemes and directed the Ministry to prioritise completion of ongoing and critical projects to reduce pendency, avoid cost escalation and improve performance indicators. Members observed that repeated project revisions, prolonged delays and premature inclusion of unapproved schemes were undermining efficiency and public trust.

4. During deliberations, the Committee identified priority schemes including National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), strengthening of Federal Medical College (FMC), upgradation of Basic Health Units (BHUs) to ensure 24/7 services with qualified doctors, Jinnah Medical Complex Karachi, Prime Minister announced Mithi (Tharparkar) project, anti-sera laboratory, vaccine-related facilities, Sheikh Zayed Hospital projects and selected rural health upgradations. It was directed that these high-impact projects be placed at the top of the Ministry’s priority list in consultation with the Planning Division.

5. The Committee expressed dissatisfaction over incomplete and inadequate briefings presented by the Ministry. Several proposals lacked clarity regarding CDWP/ECNEC approval status, cost revisions, feasibility, compliance details and implementation timelines. The Committee directed that in future meetings full documentation, approval status, comparative charts of previous and current PSDP allocations, and justification for revisions be submitted in advance. During discussion on infrastructure-heavy schemes, Members observed that several new projects lacked readiness and planning approvals. The Committee directed that projects awaiting CDWP or ECNEC clearance must not be prematurely included in PSDP documents. It was also directed that Prime Minister’s directive projects must clearly mention dates of announcement and current status to ensure transparency and accountability.

6. The Chairman further emphasised that future PSDP cycles must reduce the number of new schemes and allocate greater resources to completing ongoing projects, particularly those linked to disease burden reduction. The Planning Division was urged to align allocations with critical public health priorities rather than expanding non-essential infrastructure.

7. On BHU upgradation, Members questioned repeated repair schemes without structural reform. The Ministry informed that many BHUs were operational only for limited hours and lacked manpower. The Committee directed the Ministry to form a committee and submit a detailed report on functional status, manpower gaps, 24/7 coverage plan and performance metrics of BHUs and RHCs before further funding. Regarding disease control programmes, serious concern was expressed over Hepatitis C allocations. Members questioned how nationwide screening and treatment could be implemented with reduced funding compared to original projections. The Ministry informed that screening would initially cover ICT, AJK and GB and would later expand to provinces. The Committee directed that hotspot data, chronic patient treatment plans and detailed screening targets be shared.

8. On HIV, the Committee was informed that 84,400 patients were currently on treatment against an estimated figure exceeding three lakh nationally. Members stressed the need for increased funding, national prevalence surveys, improved provincial coordination and stronger preventive interventions. The Committee reiterated that HIV and Hepatitis programmes require enhanced allocations and a time-bound eradication roadmap.

9. The Committee also discussed diabetes prevention, noting Pakistan’s alarming prevalence rate. Members questioned the slow pace of implementation and low utilisation. It was emphasised that awareness campaigns, screening mechanisms and preventive strategies must be accelerated and monitored closely. Regarding regulatory oversight, concerns were raised over quackery, illegal clinics and weak enforcement. IHRA informed that 110 quack clinics had been sealed in recent enforcement operations. The Committee directed submission of detailed reports regarding sealed clinics, blood banks, laboratories and aesthetic centres, along with enforcement actions taken. The Committee also reviewed progress on King Salman Hospital, Bari Imam Community Health Hospital, Border Health Services, Anti-sera Lab, digitisation proposals including one patient one ID and drug inspection mechanisms. DRAP was directed to appear in the next meeting regarding drug inspector shortages and compliance gaps. The Ministry and the Chairman commended the Honourable Members of the Committee for their valuable, constructive and issue-focused input during the meeting. It was observed that the Members’ active oversight and policy-oriented recommendations significantly strengthened accountability, prioritisation and strategic direction within the health sector.

10. The meeting was attended by MNAs Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Dr. Shaista Khan, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Farukh Khan, Dr. Darshan and Ms. Sabheen Ghoury. Senior officials from the Ministry of NHSR&C and its attached departments also participated in the deliberations.