Indus Vitals

Association seeks security for doctors, rejects transfer of public healthcare facilities to NGOs and private institutions IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has voiced concern over the healthcare situation in Balochistan, condemning the suspension of doctors and opposing what it described as the outsourcing of public healthcare facilities and their budgets to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private institutions. In a statement issued after an emergent meeting of its Central Council at PMA House in Karachi on Sunday, the association said the transfer of public healthcare services to non-state entities undermined universal access to healthcare and weakened government accountability for essential health services. The meeting, presided over by PMA Centre President Dr Izhar Ahmed Chaudhary, also expressed grave concern over the Government of Balochistan's recent suspension of doctors, describing the action as harassment intended to suppress the l...

Prof Dr Intikhab Ulfat From pest control and crop improvement to water management and food safety, nuclear techniques are helping farmers meet the challenges of climate change and food security By Dr Intikhab Ulfat Nuclear technology is often associated with electricity generation and medical applications, yet its contribution to agriculture and food security is equally significant. At a time when climate change, water scarcity, pests, plant diseases, and declining productivity threaten global food systems, nuclear science is helping countries develop more resilient and sustainable agriculture. Through cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nuclear techniques are increasingly being used to improve crop production, protect natural resources, and strengthen food security. The importance of these technologies is growing as agriculture faces unprecedented pressure from climate change, population growth, shrin...

Association cites underfunded hospitals and worsening public health conditions, urges coordinated reforms IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has said Karachi's poor showing in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index reflects longstanding weaknesses in the city's health system and other services that influence public health , urging authorities to prioritise reforms that improve residents' quality of life.                                                           ST file photo In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association said Karachi's position near the bottom of the global rankings highlighted persistent deficiencies affecting healthcare delivery and public wellbeing. The EIU Global Liveability Index assesses cities across five broad categories—stability, healthcare, culture ...

SHCC chief says quality standards must be sustained; recent HIV episode underscores importance of infection control IV Report KARACHI: Dow University Hospital has been awarded a Regular Licence by the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), with officials of both institutions describing it as the first public-sector general hospital in Sindh to achieve the recognition for meeting the commission's prescribed standards for quality, patient safety and regulatory compliance. The licence was presented by SHCC Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahsan Qavi at a ceremony held at the Abdul Qadeer Khan Auditorium of Dow International Medical College's Ojha Campus. The event was attended by DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Nazli Hossain, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Jehan Ara Hassan, Prof Sajida Qureshi and Prof Zahid Azam, faculty members and SHCC officials. Presenting the licence to Prof Jehan Ara Hassan, Dr Qavi said the award represented the beginning of a greater responsibility rather than the culm...

Gulistan-e-Johar station restored after 30 years; upgradation underway IV Report KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has reestablished two fire stations in Gulistan-e-Johar and Bolton Market as part of a citywide upgradation of emergency response infrastructure. Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who inaugurated the facilities, said the move aims to strengthen Karachi’s firefighting capacity and reduce response time across densely populated areas. The Gulistan-e-Johar Fire Station has been restored after nearly three decades. Previously, the Gulshan Fire Station covered both Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Johar, straining resources. Wahab said the reestablished station will now share emergency response duties, easing pressure and improving coverage for surrounding localities. “Past fire incidents showed the need for stronger infrastructure, modern equipment, and better preparedness,” Wahab said during the ceremony. The reestablishment is part of a broader modern...

Govt yet to reconstitute commission's key policy-making body months after tenure expiry By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Amid growing concerns over healthcare delivery across Sindh, the major policy-making and oversight body of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) — the Board of Commissioners (BoCs) — has remained non-functional since the expiry of its tenure earlier this year, raising questions about regulatory governance in the health sector. It is learnt that the statutory BoCs completed its tenure in the first week of February. However, the provincial health department has yet to initiate the process for constituting a new board in accordance with the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2014, sources in the health sector said. The law states that the general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the commission, along with overall policy-making in respect of its operations, vest in the Board of Commissioners. Observers point out that such a keybody, comprisi...