Medical colleges told to offer 50% hospital beds to poor patients

Islamabad

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has directed private medical and dental colleges to abide by the rules requiring allocation of 50 per cent free beds in their teaching hospitals for the poor patients.

The colleges have also been told to display posters and banners at prominent places of hospitals to inform patients about free emergency services, beds and admissions, medical checkup, operations and provision of non-profitable medicines and laboratory services.

The PMDC has also sent the letter in this respect to the Minister for National Health Services Regulations, the National Health Services Regulations secretary and health secretaries of the four provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to ensure compliance.

“It has been observed that the provisions contained in Clause 17 (6) of Medical and Dental Institutions (recognition, eligibility criteria for enhancement in annual admissions and accreditation standards) Regulations, 2012 is not being implemented in true letter and spirit broadly violated by the administration of the private sector medical/dental institutions,” read the letter written by PMDC acting registrar Dr Syed Azhar Ali Shah.

Under the rules, in teaching hospital, 50 per cent of the beds shall operate free for accommodation and consultation, while treatment expenses including laboratory services, medicines and supplies, if any, shall be charged from the patients on a no-profit basis.

According to the PMDC, there are 60 private medical colleges 32 dental colleges. Approximately 25,000 beds and 1,600 dental chairs will be offered to poor patients.