ISLAMABAD: Though the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ (Pims) employees have warned of complete closure of hospital next week, both the government and employees leaders are optimistic about their meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Faisal Sultan on Monday (tomorrow).

President Dr Arif Alvi had promulgated the ordinance in November 2020 placing the hospital under the control of Board of Governors (BoG).

According to the ordinance, BoG will deal with the affairs of Pims once it becomes MTI. The members have been appointed and notified by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on the recommendation of a search and nomination council.

The members have also elected Dr Hamayun Mahmand as the board chairman.

Warn of closing down hospital if demands not met

The BoG has overall superintendence and control over the functions of the hospital.

Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan, while talking to Dawn, said they were protesting for the last 10 weeks but their issue could not be addressed.

“We have held meeting with the members of BoG and a meeting is scheduled with the SAPM on Monday in which it is hoped that a revised draft of Ordinance will be discussed. We have given a call of complete closure of hospital but it will be withdrawn if the ministry agrees to our demands,” he said.

Dr Khan said the status of the employees, as civil servants, would not be changed.

SAPM Dr Sultan, while talking to Dawn, said that those who were criticising the MTI Ordience had not bothered to read it.

“No one will be dismissed from service and it is also a false allegation that the charges of treatment will be increased as government will continue funding the hospital, he said.

He said it was unfortunate that a joint secretary has been running the hospital from the ministry. “I believe that hospital should have a management to run its affairs. Being a doctor I feel sorry for deans and senior doctors visiting the ministry to get approval to attend a conference or for ex-Pakistan leave. Being half of the age of doctors, the bureaucrats decide about their applications and reject their applications in most of the cases,” he said.

While replying to a question, Dr Sultan said the MTI would not change the employees’ status.

“The only difference the ordinance will make is that there will be a check on the staff to ensure their productivity. It will become impossible for them to remain out of hospital during duty hours. If I showed negligence, I would not have survived in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH),” he said.

Dr Sultan said it was quite natural that people resist the change. He claimed that the MTI was introduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was delivering well.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021