Senate health committee seeks detailed report on NIRM finances

The Senate Standing Committee on Health met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, with Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, officials of the Ministry of Health and representatives of relevant institutions in attendance.

During the meeting, the executive director of the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) briefed the committee on the institution's performance. He said that when the hospital was established in 1998, Islamabad's population stood at approximately 1.94 million, which had grown to 3.5 million by 2026. He added that NIRM provides treatment facilities not only to residents of Islamabad but also to patients from across the country through both outpatient and inpatient services.

Committee member Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan questioned the nature and scope of the hospital's outpatient services and sought clarification regarding its administrative affairs. The executive director informed the committee that NIRM had been allocated a budget of Rs641.879 million, of which around 70 percent had already been utilised.

The committee examined the institution's policy of providing free treatment to some patients while charging fees for specific services. Members sought details on the criteria used for collecting charges and the categories of services involved. Senator Masroor Ahsan remarked that, apparently, affluent individuals were receiving facilities while needy patients continued to face difficulties.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by the NIRM administration, saying that the briefing was confusing. Senator Nadeem Ahmed requested complete details regarding the number of patients treated over the past five years and the utilization of allocated funds during the last four years.

The committee directed NIRM to submit a comprehensive report on its expenditures and financial affairs at the earliest opportunity.

The meeting also reviewed the country's cervical cancer vaccine campaign. Briefing the committee, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the vaccine had been introduced in Pakistan with considerable effort. However, he noted that hesitation among some schools and parents had posed challenges during the campaign. He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) had granted Pakistan a "green status" in this regard.

The minister also expressed concern over maternal and child health, stating that around 11,000 women die annually in Pakistan during pregnancy or childbirth. He described the situation as a serious national issue and stressed the need for more effective public awareness strategies beyond traditional methods.

Later, the vice chancellor of the Health Services Academy briefed the committee on the institution's performance. He said the academy ranks among the country's leading institutions according to the Higher Education Commission and has published 398 research journals to date. He added that more than 4,000 students have completed various diploma programs through the academy.

On the occasion, Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan emphasized that while highlighting achievements in the health sector, equal importance should be given to the performance of all provinces.