ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) has directed the ministry to intervene and address the state of affairs in Pakistan Nursing Council.

The committee also tool( notice of the SROissuedbyFederalBoardof Revenue (FBR) legalising the sale of Tobacco Heated Products and decided to write to the Prime Minister to rescind the decision and give a personal hearing to the Standing Committee on the issue.

The Committee met under the chairmanship of MNA Dr Mohammad Afzal Khan Dhandla in National Institute of Health (NIH).

The president Pakistan Nursing Council apprised the committee that the registrar, acting unlawfully, took possession of the record and data of the council and refused to hand it over despite several written directions.

She said that the registrar and her accomplice had been suspended and cases against both of them had been referred to the Federal InvestigationA gency (FIA) for inquiry.

She saidthat vice president of the council had also at tempted to summon an unlawful meeting which had no legal affect.

The committee members issued directions to immediately repatriate the assistant registrar to her parent department, Polyclinic, that had been aiding the registrar in her unlawful acts.

Special Secretary of the Ministry Nasirud Din Mashhood informed the committee members that the issue was grave and the ministry would take appropriate action and submit a report to the committee.

The committee observed that a portion of what was included in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) was out of course therefore this needed to be taken into account. The committee directed the ministry to ask the Pakistan Medical Commission to stop finalisation of lists of successful candidates till the issue was under consideration of the committee.

The committee also took notice of the SRO issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) legalising the sale of Tobacco Heated Products. Members decided to urge the prime minister to rescind the decision and give a personal hearing to the Standing Committee on NHS on the issue.The committee was of the view that such products were being banned from markets throughout the world.

Steps to curb spread of hepatitis C During an event, National Focal Person on Viral Hepatitis Dr Huma Qureshi said: `Pakistan is the source of hepatitis in 9.8 million people.

Nearly 25,000 people pass away as a result of the illness. Only 22pc have received an HCV diagnosis. Pakistan lacks the necessary funds to completely eradicate the disease, thus we have been struggling. We can definitely eradicate the disease if we work together and receive adequate funding from the government.

The dialogue, organised by Roche Diagnostics Pakistan, was attended by dignitaries, leading clinicians, government personnel, Ministry of Health officials and journalists. Pakistan has the second-highest burden of hepatitis C globally with one of the world`s highest HCV-related deaths yearly.

Abdul Qayyum, country manager of Roche Diagnostics, said: `We are committed towards ensuring a hepatitisfree Pakistan by enabling sustainable access to world-class diagnostics for the people no matter where they live in Pakistan.