KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel discussed the controversial Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) and other issues with provincial health minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho in a meeting on Thursday.

Sources said Mr Patel said thefederal government would hold consultation with all stakeholders about the PMC, which should have representadon of allprovinces.

He was of the view that the way the former government had brought about the PMClaw showed that the legislation was meant to benefit the `mafia of few people`.

Both ministers also discussed the pending ownership matter ofthe Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

They agreed that provinces should be authorised to hold admissions to medical colleges and entry tests as they had their respective systems of education and syllabi.

Dr Pechuho briefed Mr Patel about the public health challenges the government was facing in theprovince and the measures taken by the department.

The department,she said, had held meetings with other provinces over eradication of polio and improved the system to administer polio drops at provincial entry points.

No case of the crippling disease had been reported in the province over the last two years, she said.

Mr Patel, in response, assured her of continued support of the feder al government.

Parliamentary secretary Qasim Soomro, health secretary Zulfiqar Shah and director general-health Dr Jumman Bahoto were in attendance.