Shifa International Hospital faces backlash for charging heavy amount over dead patient

ISLAMABAD: In a recent development, the  Shifa International Hospital is under fire since the medical facility has been accused of profiting from dead people.

The shocking discovery was made during a sitting of the National Assembly’s Subcommittee on Health, during which the private hospital in the capital reportedly charged Rs100,000 a day to hold a dead patient in its facility for a week.

The session, presided over by Committee Convener Dr. Amjad, focused on the case of Shifa International Hospital.

A patient who died at PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) was retained at Shifa International for seven days, during which the hospital allegedly billed Rs7Lac in all, according to committee member Shaista Khan.

“It is not merely a matter of unethical billing but also raises serious questions regarding patient rights, transparency, and oversight by the hospitals,” officials remarked in the committee session.

The subcommittee also observed that Shifa International is the sole private hospital that did not make its lease agreement available to the committee, which raised doubts over regulatory compliance and accountability within private healthcare facilities.

Following discoveries, the committee resolved to invite representatives of private hospitals in Islamabad to appear before the subcommittee on July 9 for more questioning and clarification.

The matter also ignited public uproar on social media, where many demanded stronger regulation and monitoring of private hospitals in Pakistan.

Committee members are likely to insist on a thorough investigation and potential sanctions if the allegations are proven during the inquiry.