A parliamentary panel was Tuesday informed that 366,000 out of an estimated 518,000 tuberculosis (TB) patients were registered with health service providers in the year 2016. Senator Dr Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi chaired the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. The committee was briefed about the issues and measures taken by the National TB Control Programme to control the disease.
National TB Control Programme Manager, Dr Nasir Mahmood informed the committee that unregistered TB patients in Pakistan are 152,000 and Pakistan is registered on number five in the list of 30 TB-affected countries. He said that the treatment to up to 93 percent patients was provided under the national programme in 2016. "Pakistan receives annually $143 million from global fund for the treatment of TB patients. Out of the total fund, $88 million are disbursed for purchase of TB medicines," he pointed out.
The committee was informed that $300 million would be required for treatment of TB patients in next three years (2018-2021). The committee members expressed concern over alleged misuse of $15 million funds given to a non-governmental organization Mercy Co and sought the audit report of utility of funds by the NGO. The committee also reviewed some media reports regarding proposed sacking of employees in Indus Hospital. The media report alleged that Advisor to Ministry of Health, Dr Karam Shah is planning to sack 200 employees of the hospital to save his Rs 0.6 million worth salaried position. The committee recommended abandoning the proposal of sacking employees of the hospital. The members of the committee were of the opinion that $40 million are provided to the hospital through global fund; therefore, there is no need to terminate any employee.