ISLAMABAD: With over 8,000 patients visiting the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) daily, the capital’s largest public health facility is grappling with an overwhelming influx of patients, the government revealed on Friday during the question hour in the Senate.

In response to a query by Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said that Pims was designed to handle only 2,000 to 3,000 patients in its out-patient department. Currently, Pims is stretched far beyond its capacity, raising concerns about the quality of care and available resources.

In a written reply, the government also conceded that Pims had a capacity of 1,254 beds which was not sufficient with respect to the demand.

The government responded that the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the Jinnah Medical Tower in Sector H-16 in July to address the issue and lessen the burden on the said hospital.

In response to a supplementary question from Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan about the details of the tower, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said a new 1,000-bed hospital spread across 600 kanals, would be constructed with all necessary services. This tertiary care facility would be a 20-storey building, with an estimated cost of Rs15 billion.

The law minister said funds amounting to Rs5 billion had been released for the construction of a new hospital, which was expected to significantly reduce the pressure on Pims and Polyclinic.

“Construction is already underway, and the facility is scheduled for completion within three years. Once operational, the new hospital will have the capacity to handle 1,000 patients daily. This will help alleviate the overwhelming patient load on Pims and Polyclinic, as the new hospital will be located at a separate site, providing an additional healthcare option for residents,” Azam Nazeer Tarar said, adding that the project was long overdue.

Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand argued that facilities like Pims were being run inefficiently. In response, the law minister invited suggestions especially from medical practitioners for guidance.

Senator Saifullah Abro lamented that patients travelling from other provinces had to often return without getting medical treatment.

In another question related to the health sector, Senator Fawzia Arshad inquired about the large number of registered nurses not practicing. She asked whether there was any proposal under consideration of the government to take any action against these nurses. She suggested this deprived others of opportunities to join the profession.

Azam Nazeer Tarar replied that the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) was a regulatory body and regulating the licensing of nursing professionals. The PNMC Act, amended in 2023, was silent about the compulsory nursing practice by nurses registered with the PNMC. This information was not recorded and data was not available. No such proposal was under consideration to take action against non-working nurses as no provisions in the Act exist for any penalty/action.

“This is a problem with both doctors and nurses. It is a sensitive issue and would be brought to the attention of the government,” Mr Tarar said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2024