ISLAMABAD: Some of the doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urging him to take notice of the misuse of authority and violations of rules in one of the largest hospitals in Pakistan.

They have also demanded the immediate removal of the executive director (ED) from his position pending a thorough investigation into allegations of misconduct, harassment, and abuse of authority and the appointment of a regular ED.

Other demands included the formation of an independent judicial commission to investigate the ED’s actions. Appointment of a permanent ED through a transparent and merit-based process, safeguarding the dignity and professional reputation of senior doctors, and accountability measures for all individuals involved in obstructing justice or facilitating administrative misconduct were also demanded.

However, a senior doctor of the hospital claimed that those who had written a letter were already facing charges of negligence and misuse of authority, and it was nothing but trying to pressure the management to save their skin.

The application, available with Dawn, alleged that the health ministry held an inquiry over irregularities in admissions in Nursing College and findings included that the ED failed to supervise the admission process at the college and he recommended the re-employment of the ex-principal after retirement.

The letter alleged that numerous appointments and promotions were carried out in an arbitrary and non-transparent manner. It also claimed that cases had been filed against the ED and his actions in the courts.

One of the signatories of the letter Dr Saifur Rehman, while talking to Dawn, said in Islamabad people hailing from Sindh were a victim of institutional racism. “The situation is so grave that Sindhi officers are denied their due promotions in the government service. In light of a Supreme Court judgement in 2016 and service rules, the officer Professor Dr Ayesha Isani, hailing from Sindh, is the most eligible officer for the position of regular ED but the right is being denied because she is Sindhi,” he alleged.

Dr Saif, who has also approached the court against the ED, said patient care in Pims was at its lowest ebb. “The authorities concerned should take note of it to appoint the most eligible, clean, and honest officer as regular ED,” he added.

A senior Pims official claimed the letter was written to influence the ED so he would bow in front of a pressure group. “Those who have signed the letter are irregular. They don’t come to the hospital and their focus is on private practice. The ED has been trying to streamline the issues of the hospital and it is not acceptable to the pressure group,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024