ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram has demanded a judicial inquiry into the reasons for a prolonged strike by hospital employees.

The demand followed rumours that some elements were using the strike to prevent a possible extension for the vice chancellor, whose tenure will end in two and a half months, and to divert the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division’s (CADD) attention from corruption at the hospital.

Pims employees have held strikes a number of times over the last four years, but most ended within in a couple of days. The current strike will enter its fourth week on Monday.

A senior doctor at the hospital said there were rumours that the employees were being used by a political figure who does not have a good relationship with the current vice chancellor.

“Since Dr Akram’s tenure will end on Jan 6, and he could be a candidate for the vice chancellor post again the strike sends the message to decision makers that the hospital’s employees do not want his presence at the hospital and someone else should be considered for the post,” he said.

“On the other hand, the political figure does not want to separate the hospital from the university because after getting a vice chancellor of his choice it will become possible to control hospital affairs, including staff appointments and the use of billions of rupees in funding every year,” the doctor added.

Employees association,VC ask why separation of hospital from university has been delayed

“If the hospital remains attached to the university rather than being a government entity, it will be easier to interfere in all the decisions. It is quite understandable if we consider that the university syndicate in October 2016 passed a resolution saying the hospital should be separated from the university and then prime minister Nawaz Sharif approved the request, then why could it not be implemented,” he asked.

The doctor added that another rumour has suggested that the strike is away to keep the CADD ministry from paying attention to a Rs12.5 million corruption scandal regarding fake medical imbursement bills and Rs200m worth of corruption in the liver transplant project.

“There are also allegations that inventories worth hundreds of millions were stolen from the hospital, and amount and equipment received as donations did not reach patients. Regulatory bodies such as the [Federal Investigation Agency, National Accountability Bureau] and anti-corruption departments should intervene,” he said.

According to documents available with Dawn, Dr Akram has already asked the Ministry of CADD to initiate the process to appoint a new vice chancellor, which takes almost four months to complete, through a search committee.

Dr Akram said he does not want to level allegations against anyone, but why the hospital has not yet been separated from the university and why the strike has not ended should be analysed.

“I suggest that an inquiry committee consisting of a retired judge and a bureaucrat be formed to see where the file that was moved to separate the hospital was delayed. Just observing the file during the inquiry will confirm where the file was delayed and who was responsible for delaying the process to separate hospital,” he said.

Dr Akram denied that he wanted an extension, and said an extension cannot be given to a vice chancellor.

He said he joined Pims to run the university, which was facing many issues.

“I achieved a number of goals during my tenure – for example, the university now has one of the best medical colleges of the country, and a dental college will be established soon. I am not interested in re-competing for the post, and I am even ready to resign today if someone doubts me. I appeal to the staff to call off their strike and start working in the best interest of patients,” he said.

Pims Employees Association spokesperson Dr Asfandyar Khan told Dawn that it was a blunder to call of previous strikes after a day or two.

“This time a unanimous decision was made that the protest and strike will not end unless the problem is solved. We care about patients, so a decision was made to hold a token strike from 8am to 11am, and after that patients will be provided medical services.

“A decision was also made to hold a full-time protest camp, and employees will sit there throughout the day.

“We also demand an inquiry to see who was responsible for delaying the legislation. The separation of the hospital from the university is not a complicated issue, and should have been addressed through a presidential ordinance much earlier.”

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2017