ISLAMABAD: While employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have been blaming Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan for conflict of interest, the latter claimed that was no longer working with Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) Lahore and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar.

He claimed that he had obtained an extended leave from SKMCH and quit as a member of the board of governors (BoG) of KTH to concentrate on his current responsibility.

The Pims employees, who have been protesting against the decision of the government to convert the hospital into a medical teaching institution (MTI), had alleged that Dr Sultan is working as the chief executive officer (CEO) of SKMCH and a member of the BoG of KTH.

Says no longer associated with Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital

When contacted, Dr Sultan told Dawn that he relinquished the post of CEO SKMCH and member of the BoG of KTH after getting the charge of SAPM.

“As it was not possible for me to deal with the responsibilities of CEO SKMCH and SAPM, I took an extended leave from SKMCH. Similarly, I decided to quit as a member of the BoG of KTH so such allegations are not correct,” he said.

Earlier, talking about the grievances of the Pims employees, he said they should not be worried as MTI would improve the quality of services in the hospital.

“It is a human nature to resist every change. The employees will benefit from the speedy decision making and timely promotions. MTI will allow us to use funds which used to lapse in the past in a better way,” Dr Sultan said.

Meanwhile, the Pims employees on Tuesday held a protest outside the National Press Club (NPC) against the government decision to turn the hospital into MTI.

They announced a rally and sit-in at D-Chowk and said 200 Covid-19 positive members of the staff will also participate in the protest if the ordinance was not withdrawn in 48 hours.

President Dr Arif Alvi last month promulgated the MTI ordinance under which the hospital will be run through a BoG.

Despite heavy rain, a large number of Pims employees participated in the protest.

Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan said they will not let the government to snatch the free health facility at Pims from the citizens and make their jobs insecure.

“We will hold a complete strike in all hospitals of Islamabad and stage a sit-in at D-Chowk if the ordinance is not withdrawn in 48 hours. We will also bring the 200 infected employees to the protest and the government will be responsible for its consequences,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2020