Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission, a regulatory authority to register, regulate and monitor public and private healthcare facilities and curb quackery practices in province could not be made fully operational even after four years since its existence due to financial ‘obstacles’ despite the approval of funds from the Chief Minister Daily Times has learnt.

The non-functional healthcare commission means that Sindh government has failed to implement a bill that would regulate over 10,000 health facilities across province including government and private healthcare facilities, dispensaries, maternity homes and clinics.

“In April 2017, CM Sindh approved seed money of Rs. 100 million for the Commission whereas Commission sent budget proposal of Rs. 465 million for financial year 2017-18,” informed Prof S. Tipu Sultan, chairperson of the Sindh Healthcare Commission.

“However despite the approval of Chief Minister and being processed from Health Department, there were some ‘obstacles’ in Finance Department to be pass to release of the funds. “Wait and pray for the funds to be released,” he added.

Prof Sultan said he has no idea as when would be funds released whether it could take weeks or months.

Recently Commission took seven directors on-board but according to its chairperson there were no funds available for their salaries so that they could start doing their assigned work.

Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2013 was passed in early 2014 by provincial assembly to improve the quality of healthcare services and ban quackery in the province however after two years in May 2016 the first notification had been released by Health Department, which shows their commitment to the health of people. Sindh Government has already imposed health emergency in the province.

At present there is no functional regulating body of Sindh’s medical facilities and healthcare service providers to evaluate and monitor performance of public and private health institutions. In Punjab and KP, provincial healthcare commissions are already working.

Health Care Commission Bill would also tackle harassment and handling issues between patients and doctors at health facilities along with violation of medical ethics.

With the setting up of the healthcare commission, all medical and dental colleges, laboratories, blood banks and other health services providing organisations of the province will have to register with the commission. The other task of the commission will be to regulate pharmacies across the province.

Published in Daily Times, July 30^th , 2017.