Interview with Mr. Ahmed Chinoy, H.I., S.I.
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Ahmed Chinoy: I have been fortunate to serve Pakistan across healthcare, capital markets, business, education and public service.
Currently, I am Chairman of Kutiyana Memon Hospital, Shareholder Director of Pakistan Stock Exchange, Board Member of Indus Hospital & Health Network, Chairman of Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association, Chairman UBG Karachi, and Chairman of Arch Group.
I have also served on the boards of CDC, NCCPL and PMEX, and remained associated with COMMECS Educational Trust and FPCCI. One of the most important periods of my public-service journey was serving as Chief of CPLC Sindh from 2010 to 2015.
I have been honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-e-Imtiaz. I regard these honours as a responsibility to continue contributing towards Pakistan and its people.
PAGE: What is your perspective regarding taxation of private hospitals?
Ahmed Chinoy: We should avoid generalising the entire private healthcare sector.
Commercial hospitals earning taxable profits should certainly be properly documented and meet all legal taxation requirements. At the same time, genuine charitable and not-for-profit hospitals operate under a different model and provide an essential service to patients who cannot afford expensive treatment.
Transparency and accountability are important for everyone. If an institution misuses charitable status to avoid legitimate obligations, authorities should take appropriate action.
However, healthcare taxation must also be structured carefully so that additional costs are not ultimately passed on to patients. The objective should be strong documentation, transparency and compliance while protecting genuine welfare healthcare institutions and keeping treatment affordable.
PAGE: Has declining public healthcare pushed lower-middle-income families towards expensive private hospitals?
Ahmed Chinoy: To a considerable extent, yes.
Pakistan has excellent doctors and healthcare professionals in the public sector, but many government hospitals face problems of overcrowding, limited resources, shortages of medicines and insufficient infrastructure.
When patients cannot receive timely treatment, they naturally turn towards private hospitals. Unfortunately, this can place a major financial burden on lower and middle-income families.
The solution is to strengthen government hospitals through better management, accountability, infrastructure and resources. At the same time, public, private and charitable hospitals should complement one another rather than compete.
Our objective should be simple: quality and dignified healthcare must be available to every Pakistani, regardless of financial status.
PAGE: How do you view the shortage of specialised doctors in government hospitals?
Ahmed Chinoy: Salary is an important factor, but it is not the only reason doctors leave government institutions or move abroad.
Medical professionals also seek better working conditions, modern facilities, training opportunities, research, professional recognition and transparent career progression.
Pakistan needs a comprehensive strategy to retain its medical talent. This should include competitive compensation, merit-based promotions, postgraduate training and opportunities for specialists to develop their careers within the country.
Government, private hospitals and medical universities should also cooperate more closely in specialist training. Our doctors are among Pakistan’s greatest assets. We need to create an environment where talented professionals can build rewarding careers while continuing to serve Pakistan.
PAGE: What is your take on Sehat Card Plus and similar healthcare incentives?
Ahmed Chinoy: The concept is extremely important because no family should face financial ruin simply because someone becomes seriously ill.
Programmes such as Sehat Card can help ordinary citizens access treatment at public and private hospitals.
However, strong governance is essential. There must be transparent hospital selection, proper clinical audits, monitoring against misuse and timely payments to hospitals providing legitimate treatment.
We should also invest more in preventive and primary healthcare, particularly early detection of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and other common illnesses.
Most importantly, healthcare programmes should become part of a long-term national policy rather than short-term political initiatives. Quality healthcare should ultimately be accessible to every Pakistani, irrespective of income.