ISLAMABAD: After a boycott by members of the opposition parties, National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health on Monday passed the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Bill and referred it to the house for further discussion and voting.

The meeting was chaired by Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) legislator Khalid Hussain Magsi and held at the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS).

During the meeting, members of the opposition parties criticised the bill and alleged that it was an attempt to privatise Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (Pims).

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz MNA Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad said the board of governors (BoG) of the hospital should be answerable rather than becoming independent.

On the recommendations of the members, it was agreed that a third-party audit of the hospital would be done, all moveable and immoveable assets would be owned by the government rather than the BoG.

A representative of Pims, Dr Asfandar Khan, while briefing the committee demanded that the word corporate body should be removed from the bill and employees should be allowed to remain civil servants. He also demanded that Pims should remain in Schedule III.

Pakistan People’s Party legislator Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro suggested that two professors or doctors should be included in the BoG. She also said the MTI had failed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The committee accepted all the demands after which the employees of Pims said the bill should be approved.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said prominent names in the health sector were inducted in the BoG. He also said the BoG would be empowered to appoint the director hospital, medical director, deans, director finance and director nursing.

“Other appointments will be made by the hospital committee and final approval will be given by the BoG,” he said.

The chairman of the committee decided to hold voting on the bill but opposition members were not willing and demanded that they need to get further assurances that the general public would not be affected by the passage of the bill.

However, Mr Magsi insisted on voting and sought an assurance that it would be conducted if he convened a meeting the next day. However, the opposition members announced a boycott and left the committee room. Later, the other members approved the bill.

In November 2020, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated the MTI ordinance. According to the initial draft, the BoG would deal with all affairs of Pims once it becomes a MTI. The members shall be appointed and notified by the ministry of NHS on the commendation of a search and nomination council. If appointed, the members will hold office for a period of three years and will be eligible for reappointment.

Autonomy would be given to the hospital by declaring it MTI. The BoG shall have overall superintendence and control over the functions of the hospital. No serving civil servant or government officer shall become a member of the BoG while the chairperson shall be elected by the members through voting from amongst themselves.

The BoG shall appoint deans, the hospital director, medical director, nursing director and finance director of the hospital. The board may also delegate its power of recruitment to any of the persons appointed by it. The chairperson of the board may, in case of exigency of service, appoint the deans, medical director, hospital director, nursing director and finance director on officiating basis. All such appointments shall be placed before the BoG for approval within three months.

SAPM visits Pims

On Monday morning, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan visited Pims and inspected different departments, including under-construction outpatient department.

Ministry’s spokesperson Sajid Shah said rush of patients was observed at the counter from where slips were issued.

“SAPM directed the hospital management to address the issue and provide relief to the patients,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2021