ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has given six weeks to the federal and provincial governments to give a plan about running four hospitals in Sindh and Punjab ensuring that their employees do not suffer in future.

The court also directed the federal government to provide funds to these hospitals till the decision in the case for transfer of trust hospitals to these provinces.

After the passage of the 18th Amendment, these hospitals were handed over to Sindh and Punjab, but the apex court directed the federal government to take their control again.

When these hospitals were handed over to the provinces, some of their employees moved the court and got a decision in their favour. Then the Sindh government challenged the decision in the Supreme Court.

Centre told to provide funds until the matter is settled

In January this year, the Supreme Court rejected the plea of Sindh and ordered the federal government to take control of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, National Institute of Child Health in Karachi and Sheikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Moreover, the court gave 90 days to both the governments for a smooth transition, but it could not happen.

During the hearing of the case, Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that all the hospitals are the state’s assets.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that during the last hearing the court had directed the attorney general to present the federal government’s stance on the matter.

The additional attorney general told the court that the federal government wanted to hand over the hospitals to the provincial governments, but it did not happen because of the apex court’s decision.

Justice Maqbool Baqar said the government should look into the fate of trusts, along with the hospitals.

One of the doctors informed the court that the employees were not getting their salaries and even pensions of retired employees were stopped due to the confusion over who will run these hospital — the provinces or the Centre.

The Punjab government’s representative claimed that funds were provided to Sheikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute.

National Health Services Secretary Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik said that the court order would be implemented.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza explained the issue after which the court observed that the government stance was presented very eloquently.

However, Sindh government’s representative Farooq Naek said the federal government was not releasing funds for the hospitals in Karachi.

While talking to Dawn, Dr Mirza said: “We have told the honourable court that we are bound by the Supreme Court’s decision of January 17. There are budgetary constraints, but we have been trying to address the issue. The court has given us six weeks and we will definitely come up with a proper solution to the issue,” he said.

An official of the Ministry of National Health Services said the ministry has started considering taking over these hospitals as the Supreme Court’s orders have to be implemented.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2019