PMA unsatisfied with working attitude of SHCC

KARACHI: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA)  expressed concern over the working attitude of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) and increasing complaints against regulatory bodies. 

These views were expressed by the Central leader of PMA, Dr Mirza Ali Azhar, during a press conference held at PMA House. President PMA Sindh, Dr Muhammad Usman Mako, General Secretary PMA Karachi, and Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro also spoke. 

Dr Mirza Ali Azhar said, first of all, it is to remind you that SHCC came into being after very rigorous efforts of PMA. The idea was to improve the healthcare delivery system, protect the rights of the patients and doctors, eliminate quackery, and a system of checks and balances, accountability and registration of all healthcare facilities. 

He said we feel very apologetic when we say that almost none of the goals mentioned above could be achieved in the last eight years as we desired. On top of it, stories of corruption and harassment of doctors and healthcare facilities roam around frequently while SHCC suspiciously maintains its silence. 

Dr Mirza Ali Azhar said an unfortunate incident happened at Liaquat National Hospital where a patient was treated by a foreign-qualified senior most responsible surgeon and discharged from the hospital. Unfortunately, the patient was a close relative of someone from the judiciary. 

After a few days, the patient was admitted again with Covid positive /Dengue and unfortunately passed away. After this sad incident, the person belonging to the judiciary acted swiftly and, using his connections, booked all doctors in an FIR whosoever was involved in treating this patient. 

 According to the act of SHCC, Section 19(1,2), no FIR can be registered against any healthcare worker/doctor unless it is proved as a negligence case. SHCC has to differentiate between complication and negligence. Now the senior surgeon is running from pillar to post to get Justice. 

He further said the second important issue to be discussed the elections of Commissioners of SHCC. According to the act of SHCC 2013, Section 5 (9), NINE commissioners are to be elected and notified by the office of the Health Minister.
 
 He said two out of nine are supposed to be nominated by the Chief Minister. The procedure is given in the act. On 16-08-22, the elections were held according to the procedure, and the winners were announced at the end of the meeting. 

Then according to our information, the names were sent to the CM office for nominating two members. But instead of getting those names, a new notice was issued, and a meeting was called on Tuesday, 25th October, to repeat the whole electoral process ostensibly to bring people of their own choices. 

This delay in the notification and exercise of new elections creates doubts and uncertainty. This whole exercise is illegal and against democratic norms. 

He demanded that the two remaining nominations be done as soon as possible. So, the Commissioners could play their due role in the smooth working of SHCC. Otherwise, any illegal and unconstitutional move will be challenged at appropriate forums.