IHRA Under Fire: Parliament Probes Illegal Registrations, Conflicted Board Members, and Regulatory Collapse

Islamabad (Nadeem Tanoli) The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) came under intense fire in a heated session of the National Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Health. Lawmakers raised serious concerns about the authority’s credibility, citing illegal registrations, lack of a functioning registration board, and conflicts of interest involving its leadership. The committee accused IHRA of enabling unlicensed medical institutions to operate in Islamabad, while its own legal framework and appointments remained in disarray.

Chaired by MNA Amjad Khan, the committee questioned how hospitals and clinics were being registered despite the absence of a duly constituted registration board, a mandatory prerequisite under IHRA’s own mandate. Members called this a gross violation of regulatory norms, undermining the entire system of healthcare oversight in the capital.

Dr. Shazia Sobia, an active member of the committee, revealed that the IHRA Board chairman had approved the registration of his own dental college, calling it a clear case of conflict of interest. She also cited examples where clinics were granted operational permissions even though they had only applied and not yet been formally approved. The Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health admitted a lack of understanding of IHRA’s current structure and performance.

Dormant Registration Board Casts Doubt on IHRA’s Licenses and Registration

Lawmakers further alleged that recruitments within IHRA were carried out in violation of advertised qualifications and experience, contributing to a collapse in regulatory capacity. The committee resolved to issue a formal letter to the Ministry of Health, demanding an immediate review of IHRA’s board appointments, recruitment process, and its ongoing operations.

The crisis extended to financial oversight. Members highlighted how IHRA allowed private hospitals to function without price regulation and how there was no control over medical lab test pricing, leading to disproportionate costs for patients. “I paid 7 million rupees for a single patient at Shifa,” said the convener, stressing the need for regulatory intervention.

Amid this criticism of IHRA, the committee also turned its attention to Shifa International Hospital, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over tax exemptions and subsidized land use.

The CDA confirmed that Shifa International’s lease was extended until 2052, under legacy agreements from the 1980s and 2019 renewals. The committee questioned how a private hospital could continue receiving public land at subsidized rates without any public service obligations, especially while enjoying partial tax exemptions.

Committee members invoked Rule 227 of the Rules of Business, affirming their authority to demand detailed tax records from the FBR. They rejected the FBR’s justification that sharing hospital-specific data would create legal issues, emphasizing that transparency is necessary for effective parliamentary oversight.

Lawmakers also criticized the CDA for allowing greenbelt violations, including unauthorized parking construction by Shifa International. The committee considered referring these matters to the Public Accounts Committee, especially regarding how amenity plots—intended for social welfare—have been misused for commercial gain.