ISLAMABAD: The employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Thursday continued their protest against the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance, suspending all services, except in the Covid-19 ward and emergency department.

The ordinance was promulgated by President Arif Alvi last month under which the hospital would be run through a board of governors.

A large number of employees gathered in front of the admin block and chanted slogans against the ministry and the government.

They said Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had said on Wednesday the employees would be taken on board over the issue but no one bothered to do so.

Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan said they will continue the protest till the government withdraws the ordinance.

“The government intends to snatch free treatment facility form patients by privatising Pims. We will not surrender until the government withdraws the ordinance,” he said.

Saying that Dr Sultah had announced that the employees would be taken on board, Dr Khan said how the employees could be taken on board after promulgation of the ordinance.

“If the government is serious, it should withdraw the ordinance and then start negotiations with the employees. Earlier, a committee was formed, consisting of former SAPM Dr Zafar Mirza and Member National Assembly from Islamabad Ali Awan, but its recommendations were ignored while promulgating the ordinance,” he said.

The employees are being threatened by the management rather than inviting them for negotiations, he said. Raiz Gujjar said they were more concerned about poor people apart from losing their own job security.

Tanveer Noshahi said the employees will not compromise on their right of civil service. He said if MTI was implemented the hospital employees would be put in a surplus pool.

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar on Wednesday visited Pims to express solidarity with the employees.

He said MTI had failed in Khyber Paktunkhwa and that was why the ANP had opposed it.

He assured the protesters that their issue would be taken up on the floor of parliament and the civil servant status of their job would not be allowed to disturb.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020