ISLAMABAD: As it faces a financial crunch due to a shortage of funds, the surgical procedures at Islamabad’s largest hospital – the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences – have been affected due to a scarcity of surgical blades, protective equipment, and several other items.

Last week, a list of nine items – surgical blades, disposable sheets, disposable gown, sterilised gloves, gauze, abdominal sponges, crepe bandage, face mask, and plaster – was affixed outside the main operation theatre in the hospital, which created panic among patients as well as staffers, who feared the surgeries at the hospital might be suspended. But the hospital spokesperson assured that the procedures would not be affected despite the shortage of products.

Dr Mubashir Mushtaq Daha said that the hospital had rationalised the supplies due to a financial crunch but it would be ensured that the surgeries were not affected. The speculations were also fueled because of messages shared by a number of Pims doctors with the media, claiming that due to the shortage of funds, the surgical procedures were being suspended. A senior doctor, requesting anonymity, said that it was correct that the OTs were not getting supplies as per their requirements, hampering the routine procedures.

“We are getting almost 50pc supplies due to which it has become difficult for us to continue surgeries in the hospital. We have been demanding a number of items from the attendants of patients for the surgeries but now the extra financial burden has been put on them,” he said.

Hospital says supplies are being rationalised, assures operation theatres will remain functional

It is also noted that the hospital staff has also started asking the attendants with the patients to purchase all the missing items required for surgeries, otherwise the procedures would not be conducted.

Pims Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikander, in a statement, said that it was not correct that the surgeries were being suspended. He claimed that the supplies were provided as per the demand of the surgeons and it was “impossible that the surgeries would be suspended because of the unavailability of supplies”.

Pims spokesperson Dr Daha said that it was being investigated that who pasted the list outside the operation theatre and what was the objective of pasting such a document. He, however, did confirm that the hospital was facing severe financial issues and a request for more funds from the health ministry had already been sent by the hospital management.

“We have been rationalising the cost of supplies. Currently, the patients in out-patient departments (OPDs) can say that they are not getting medicines, but patients in emergency departments are getting their medicines,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that in November 2023, the health ministry wrote a letter to the Finance Division demanding Rs 11 billion for the smooth functioning of hospitals within the federal capital and Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. The request was turned down.

It may be noted here that a few months ago, the caretaker government decided to appoint serving officers of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps as the heads of the two largest state-run hospitals in Islamabad – Pims and Polyclinic on deputation for three years. The move was eventually hampered after a court decision, which barred the appointment of an ‘outsider’ as the Pims head.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024