Establishment of an education task force beyond the current government’s constitutional scope PIMA
In Islamabad, the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has vehemently opposed the establishment of the ‘Taskforce on Medical Education and Patient Care’, advising the caretaker government to focus on its constitutional obligations and defer health and medical education reforms to the elected government.
According to a PIMA spokesperson, the creation of this task force exceeds the caretaker government’s authority as outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan. This move not only violates constitutional bounds but also lacks representation from the entire medical education sector in the country.
The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS, R&C) recently announced a 12-member Taskforce on Medical Education and Patient Care, appointing Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr. Amir Bilal as its chairman. This task force has been empowered to oversee the operations of several entities, including the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP), medical universities, the Sehat Saulat Program, and healthcare commissions.
The PIMA spokesperson urged the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice to address the illegality of the Ministry of Health’s notification regarding the task force’s formation. They called for intervention to prevent the ministry from overstepping its authority in matters beyond its purview.