ISLAMABAD: After the intervention of the chief justice, 35 posts have been created at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ (Pims) Cardiac Centre, including that of its director.

“The Cardiac Centre was established years ago and even a post for its head was not created till now. The issue of contractual doctors working at the centre is already underway as the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has advertised posts and they will be given additional marks during interviews,” Pims Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad told Dawn.

The chief justice had in April taken notice of the Cardiac Centre which was on the verge of closing. He called the Pims management and representatives of the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division and directed them to address the issue and ensure the centre continues offering services.

Centre’s contractual staff working without salary can be regularised through FPSC’s advertisements of posts

According to a document, available with Dawn, 35 posts have been created for the centre from BPS 1 through to 19. The Ministry of Finance has approved funding for this and the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue has also been informed of the posts.

Dr Amjad said that according to the rules, posts in BPS 16 and above will be filled by FPSC, those between BPS 5 and 15 will be filled via the National Testing Service and posts below 5 will be filled by hospital management.

“Service delivery will be improved after the posts are filled and I hope the issues at the Cardiac Centre will be settled. FPSC has already advertised doctors’ posts due to which contractual doctors will be regularised as they will be given additional marks,” he said.

The Cardiac Centre project was started in 2005 and was to be completed in 14 months but took 10 years to finish. Staff was appointed through a PC-1 and was being paid salaries but after the completion of the project in 2015, the employees had to be dismissed. However, the hospital management requested them to continue working without salaries, promising that their dues will be paid after their services are regularised.

The employees could not be regularised as they had become overage and special permission had to be sought from the prime minister which could not be granted despite a number of efforts.

Doctors contacted parliamentary committees and even went to the Islamabad High Court for this. They were also not paid their salaries due to the unavailability of funds. The salaries were finally paid after over 30 months after the intervention of the chief justice.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018