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Senate committee defers Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2021 for further deliberation

  • January 14, 2022

ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Thursday deferred the Pakistan Psychological Council Bill 2021 for further deliberation. 

Chairman committee recommended psychological and psychiatric experts to work together on the bill with a clear mind-set. Muhammad Hamayun Mohmand appreciated the bill and underlined that he was also in favour of the bill and wanted this sector to be regularised.

The committee met here at Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Hamayun Mohmand. Detailed deliberation took place on the bill moved by Senators Seemee Ezdi, Khalida Ateeb and Mushahid Hussain Sayed. Member National Assembly Riaz Fityana, who initially moved the bill in the National Assembly briefed the committee about its purpose and objectives.

Riaz Fityana informed the committee that psychology and psychiatry are two sectors different from one another. 

He clarified that this bill is only for psychologists and the driving force behind was to regulate this sector, adding that the bill would help the academia for tuning its syllabus. 

The chairman while showing his concern over the bill said that if the bill is passed would it not be in clash with the Allied Health Services?

He remarked that he is not against the bill and wants to regularise this section of professionals. 

Psychologists and psychiatrists who were invited to the committee meeting also gave their insight on the bill. The panel of psychologists noted that the wording ‘Mental Health Regulation’ mistakenly became part of the para in the bill and needed to be addressed.

Senator Rubina Khalid said that the bill should not be passed in haste, adding, that mental health has become a taboo in our society. Appreciating the bill, Rubina Khalid stressed to review the bill carefully before giving it a green signal.

Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi suggested that both the professionals (psychologists and psychiatrists) should sit together to talk out the differences and lacunas in the bill.

After a detailed discussion on the bill, the chairman committee deferred further deliberation till the next meeting.

Due to the non-presence of the mover, the matter regarding the practice of aesthetic medicine by medical practitioners and awarding them the relevant diplomas/ degrees/ licenses by PMC/ IHRA for practising aesthetic medicines as a specialised and recognised field of medical practice and issuance of show-cause notices by PMC to 22 doctors was also deferred.

Senators Behramand Khan Tangi, Senator Mehr Taj Roughani, Senator Fawzia Arshad, Senator Sana Jamali, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Jam Mehtab, Senator Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen attended the meeting while Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Seemee Ezdi participated as a mover. MNA Riaz Fityana attended the meeting as a special invitee. Psychologists and panel of psychiatrists and other relevant officials were also part of the meeting.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/14-Jan-2022/senate-committee-defers-pakistan-psychological-council-bill-2021-for-further-deliberation

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