ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Zafar Mirza on Sunday again claimed that the government was moving towards converting the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) into a medical teaching institution (MTI).

Talking to media persons after planting a tree at Pims, he said across the globe decisions were made by major hospitals on their own and they were run on the basis of autonomy.

“Here the medical superintendents and executive directors cannot take decisions. They cannot purchase medicine, start new facilities or hire staff. However, at MTI a board of governors would be established and the chief executive officer (CEO) would be appointed at the market based salary. The CEO would hire his own team to ensure service quality. Private practice would also be allowed in the hospital,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Mirza said the hospital employees would be given an option of contractual job which would have much more salary but they would also have the option of continuing as government servants till the age of superannuation.

“However, those employees who refuse to opt for the contractual job can be transferred to any other public sector hospital. MTI is the best system and would not only improve service delivery but would also allow the hospital to generate revenue,” he said.

Employees of Pims have been protesting for the last a few months against the government’s plan to privatise the hospital.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2019