The health sub-committee of the Senate, led by Senator Rubina Khalid, has taken significant steps to address the concerning issue of nursing colleges falsely claiming affiliations with hospitals and the distribution of fake certifications to nurses by institutions registered with the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC). To investigate these fraudulent practices thoroughly, the committee has requested the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to intervene.
During a meeting chaired by Senator Rubina Khalid and attended by Senator Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar and Senator Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani, concerns were raised about the absence of representatives from the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) and the health ministry. Senator Khalid expressed surprise and disappointment at the lack of representation, suspecting possible collusion between the ministry and the PNC to mislead the sub-committee.
The absence of the PNC Chairman, Rafat Jan, raised further questions during the meeting. It was discovered that she was attending a general fundraising event at the Prime Minister’s office, not specifically for the meeting. The sub-committee expressed additional worries when they found out that the IT in charge had been nominated to present instead of the chairman, leading to concerns about the council’s intentions. As a result, they decided to escalate the matter to the main committee for further investigation and necessary action.
During their review of the working papers related to hospital registrations with the PNC, the sub-committee discovered evidence of fraud. This led to an emphasis on the need for clarification on various registrations to ensure transparency and accountability within the nursing profession. The sub-committee aims to ensure that these malpractices are promptly addressed, preserving the integrity and credibility of the nursing field.
