ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf’s request for two months to streamline issues in the public sector hospitals of the federal capital and directed the government to appoint their permanent heads by Nov 7.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was hearing a case regarding the situation of facilities in the hospitals.

During the hearing, Justice Ameer Hani Muslim observed that patients were dying at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic but the government still needed two months to streamline the affairs. He regretted that the court had to intervene in the appointment of the executive directors and administers of the hospitals.

“The court knows what is happening at Pims. One doctor is looking after eight offices. Pims hospital and the university should be separated,” he said.

Chief Justice Jamali said it was not possible to give two months for the appointment of the heads of hospitals. He ordered the appointment of the heads by November 7.

“Institutions are being run without heads. What is the reason behind the failure of the government in this regard? How transparency can be ensured without appointing heads of the institutions, why is the culture of the ad hocism being promoted,” he said.

He said it was not the job of doctors to carry out administration works. Currently, a cardiologist is doing administration work in a hospital.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016