ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) employees have announced their decision to resist the civic body’s move to outsource the diagnostic services (pathology, imaging and radiology) of CDA hospital.

A committee in this regard has been constituted which will evaluate the feasibility, advantages and challenges of outsourcing the services.

The CDA Mazdoor Union, an elected body of employees of CDA, issued a statement on Thursday, vowing that they would not let the CDA hospital to be privatised.

The hospital is located in sector G-6 and it is considered as one of the best public sector hospitals of Islamabad, which besides catering to CDA employees but also provide services to private patients.

General Secretary of the Union Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin, President Aurangzeb Khan and other office-bearers said that the CDA hospital, which is known as Capital Hospital, is a valuable asset of the employees and those who think of its privatisation should be held accountable.

They said that a couple of months ago, the union had informed the CDA’s management had showed their concerns over the proposal. Office bearers further said that through another letter, they have informed the management to immediately halt the process of outsourcing and consult with the institution’s largest stakeholder, the CBA union.

“The purpose of building the hospital is to provide treatment facilities to the employees and their families but the CDA management wants to outsource the hospital and in this regard the current CBA union of the institution had not been taken into confidence and a committee has been constituted without our consent as required by the law,” they said.

“Of course, the poor employees will be on the losing end by this process and there is severe anxiety among all the employees in this regard. On this occasion, we appeal to the CDA chairman, executive director of the Capital Hospital to withdraw this decision immediately and instead of outsourcing the hospital, improve the condition of the hospital by providing modern equipment and facilities. If this process was not stopped immediately, CDA Mazdoor Union will strongly protest against the privatisation of the hospital and fight all legal battles,” they announced.

Recently, CDA management formed a four-member committee headed by Executive Director Capital Hospital Dr Naeem Taj “to evaluate the feasibility, advantages and challenges of outsourcing the diagnostic services of the Capital Hospital.

“The committee will be responsible for presenting the best outsourcing model, which may include identifying potential outsourcing partners, assessing operational requirements and ensuring that the hospital maintains high standards of care and regulatory compliance.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2025