ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Senate was told on Friday that there are a total of 1,487 healthcare establishments including hospitals, clinics, labs, and quacks, etc in Islamabad and among them, 1,369 are in urban areas and 118 are in rural areas.
To a question by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl’s (JUI-F) Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination told the House in writing that there are 5 public sector hospitals in urban areas of Islamabad.
Regarding the private sector, there are 20 private hospitals providing the services and besides this, there are also three semi-government hospitals.
The minister told that at this point of time, the private sector is unregulated and there is no license issuing to private sector hospitals. However, Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Act 2018 has been promulgated, he said.
The House was told that the Board of Islamabad Healthcare Authority has been constituted and notified. The CEO has been appointed and has taken over his responsibilities. The budget for the authority as a seed money/grant in aid was processed for allocation and release from the government of Pakistan.
The minister further told that the selection of staff in Islamabad Healthcare Authority is under process and it will be functional this year conditional to the availability of seed money.
It will then start registering and licensing all public and private healthcare facilities in Islamabad, he said.
It was further told that the registration of healthcare staff working in the hospitals including doctors, nurses, and paramedics is the responsibility of relevant councils. The act for the council of paramedics in under process.
