ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on Saturday appointed five members of the board of governors (BoG) of the Federal Medical Teaching Institution (FMTI) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

The BoG will hold a meeting on Monday to elect its chairman.

The employees of the hospital have shown their support for the members and hoped that having experience in hospital management they would be elected as chair of the BoG.

According to a notification, available with Dawn, “in pursuance of Section 4 of the FMTI Act 2021 and with the approval of the cabinet the BoG of FMTI has been constituted with immediate effect.”

The members of the BoG are: Naveed Khalid Butt (telecommunication industry), Dr Shagufta Hussain (former professor of pathology at Pims), Prof Dr Arshad Javaid (ex-VC Khyber Medical University), Dr Abid Malik (ex-dental surgeon Pims) and Muzammal Rasheed (chartered accountant).

The notification has been sent to the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Press for printing in the official gazette.

An official of the hospital, requesting not to be quoted, said the members will hold their meeting in the hospital on Monday.

“During the meeting, they will elect the chairman of the BoG,” he said.

Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan while talking to Dawn said the employees have welcomed the members of the BoG.

“We expect that they will take steps for the betterment of the patients and staff. We hope that they will play their role to protect the civil servant status of the employees,” he said.

Dr Khan also hoped that the meeting would elect a member as the chairman of the BoG on the basis of their experience in hospital management.

In Nov 2020, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated the MTI ordinance under which the hospital will be run through a BoG.

According to the ordinance, the BoG will deal with all affairs of Pims.

The members were appointed and notified by the ministry of NHS on the recommendation of a search and nomination council.

The members also held a meeting and elected Dr Hamayun Mohmand as the chairman of the BoG. However, Dr Mohmand resigned after becoming a senator.

Later, the ordinance lapsed and a bill was passed by the joint session of parliament.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2021