Public-private partnership planned for hospitals

Islamabad:The federal government is set to launch a public-private partnership (PPP) model to reform Islamabad’s healthcare system, following serious mismanagement reports about the Federal Government Polyclinic hospital.

Health minister Mustafa Kamal announced that a PPP project would be ready within 20-25 days, with non-governmental organisations already invited to participate. The announcement came during a meeting of the Senate's standing committee on health chaired by Senator Aamir Waliuddin. Senator Hidayatullah complained of patient mistreatment, doctors' absenteeism and unavailability of essential medicines at Polyclinic.

He aid even as a parliamentarian, he had to stand in line and buy medicine from outside. Minister Kamal agreed, calling the situation a “malignant tumor” and said those causing issues couldn't be tasked with fixing them. He emphasised overhauling the health system through partnerships and administrative reform.