WE, the staff and faculty members of the JPMC/NICH and NICVD, disagree with the views expressed by Dr Qaisar Sajjad in his letter ‘Politicisation of hospital to affect patients’( Sept 30).

As is obvious from the contents of the letter, the whole issue of Sindh Medical University is based on a motive to take over the JPMC/NICH and the NICVD and get lucrative postings etc., and has nothing to do with academics/patient care.

The Sindh Medical College does not fulfil the minimum criteria laid down by the HEC in terms of faculty, land, building and other infrastructure to become a university. It was temporarily accommodated by the JPMC. Unfortunately the guest is trying to be the owner of the house. A few people who had spent two years of their life at the SMC are trying to be the champions of Sindh Medical College, ignoring the fact that it is the JPMC which has provided shelter to the SMC and taught its students in addition to their own duties without any remuneration or compulsion for over 35 years.

As far as politicisation of the hospital and its effects on patient care are concerned, the JPMC was/is the only hope of the poor of this city and large parts of Pakistan.

The biggest of proof of politicisation was the published admission policy of Sindh Medical University, where the doors of admission were closed for the students from interior of Sindh. On the contrary, the JPMC is open to all and operates on merit only regardless of domicile in all its training programmes.

It is also important to note that the JPMC/ NICH/ NICVD fulfil all the criteria laid down by the HEC/federal law ministry/Establishment Division which had approved the charter to make the JPMC a federal university devolved with a camp office in Islamabad.

The ordinance of Sindh Medical University has lapsed almost a month ago. We wonder under what law Sindh Medical University is still working and continuing an admission process, while the vice chancellor is withdrawing a huge salary and benefits, which is obviously illegal.We, at the JPMC/ NICH/ NICVD, want an improvement in education, research and patient care without political interference for the whole country, particularly Sindh, Balochistan and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan and feel that these three institutes should be elevated to a federal medical university status (Jinnah University of Health Sciences) as its charter has already been approved by the HEC and the ministry of law.

As far as the Sindh Medical College is concerned, it is our baby and we will welcome them in this federal medical university. However, if they do not want to stay with the JPMC, they can join any other Sindh government hospital and vacate the JPMC land and we will wish them good luck.

JPMC STEERING COMMITTEE Karachi