ISLAMABAD: Staff of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Monday held a protest against the decision of the government to convert the hospital into Medical Teaching Institution (MTI).

Employees gathered outside the Administration Block and held the protest.

They were of the view that the decision of the government would not only deprive them of job security but it would affect patients too. Dr Asfandyar Khan, a participant of the protest, said the employees could not be fooled in the name of reforms.

Another employee Sharif Khatak said that Pims provided treatment to 1.5 million patients every year and because of the decision they would also suffer.

Separately, candidates of the medical colleges on Monday held a protest and alleged that first time in the history, University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore had deprived Islamabad domicile holders of their right to apply for MBBS/BDS admissions 2019 on open merit.

“UHS has already taken the admission test of Punjab and Islamabad domiciled candidates on August 25, but at the time of admission they suddenly changed the policy and excluded Islamabad candidates from admission,” one of the candidates said.

“Federal Medical and Dental College (FMDC) Islamabad via Shaheed Zulfigar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU, Islamabad) has allocated quota for the students of provinces but residents of federal capital have been stopped from getting admission through UHS,” he said.

UHS Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram, while talking to Dawn, said that the issue arose due to decisions of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

“We have been directed by the council that only students of Punjab would be accommodated in public sector colleges,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2019