ISLAMABAD: As the federal government has decided to issue health cards to all the residents of Islamabad by the end of the current year, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has started arrangements to compete with the private sector and get a major chunk of the revenue.

“We will have to provide facilities better or at least at a par with private hospitals to get a major share from the revenue. We have started arrangements to ensure that timely and best possible treatment is provided to patients to gain their satisfaction,” Hospital Director Dr Ijaz Qadeer told Dawn.

He said the health authorities had informed the hospital that the cards would be issued to all the residents of Islamabad by the end of the current year.

“A large number of people in Punjab, Khyber Paktunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have already been issued the health cards or they are in the process to receive them, so we are also aiming to encourage them to come to Pims for treatment. As every family can get treatment of up to Rs1 million every year it will help the hospital increase the revenue and spend the amount on the extension of its departments and improvement of facilities,” Dr Qadeer said.

Govt will issue health cards to residents of Islamabad by end of current year, says official

Replying to a question, he agreed that a large number of people would be preferring private hospitals.

“However, we will provide better treatment compared to private hospitals so patients will prefer getting treatment at Pims. The competition with private hospitals will be beneficial for the hospital management, staff and also for the patients,” he said.

Through the cards, enrolled families can access indoor healthcare services free of cost from any panel hospital in Pakistan. Services can also be accessed by showing the CNIC card of the enrolled family at panel hospitals. Each family can get treatment worth up to Rs1 million per year.

Moreover, there is also burial support of Rs10,000 per death if it occurs in any empanelled hospital. All medicines, investigations and procedures are covered during admission. Medicines are also provided to each patient upon their discharge. One free follow-up after discharge is also covered under the card. There are more than 450 empanelled hospitals, including private sector hospitals, across Pakistan.

Interim management committee

The board of governors (BoG) of Pims on Saturday constituted an interim management committee.

According to a notification issued by BoG Chairman Dr Abid Malik, the committee has been constituted in pursuance to Federal Medical Training Institutes Act 2021.

There are six members in the management committee: Hospital Director Dr Ijaz Qadeer, Dean Prof Dr Rizwan Taj, Dean Dr Bilal Ahmed, Medical Director Dr Syeda Batool Mazhar, Finance Director Mahar Usman and Nursing Director Humaira Khushnood.

A doctor of the hospital said the committee would function under the BoG and all the departments would be answerable to it.

“The management committee will be answerable to the BoG which would make it possible for prompt decision making and improved treatment of patients,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2021