ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) is facing shortage of staff as 242 posts are still vacant in the hospital, the Senate was told on Wednesday.
During the question hour, the upper house was informed that out of the 242 vacant posts, eleven were in BPS-11 (one for NWFP and 10 for Balochistan), 21 in BPS-14, (12 for NWFP and nine for Balochistan), four in BS-17 (three for NWFP and one for Balochistan) while one post was still to be filled in BS-18 (NWFP).
However, Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan in a written statement said the posts would be filled in the near future.
He said those in BS-16 and above would be filled on the recommendations of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) for which consultation with the FPSC was under way. The posts in BPS 1 to 15 are within the purview of the executive director of Pims who was taking action to fill the vacancies, he added.
In reply to another question, the minister said penalties had been imposed on 26 employees of the hospital, majority of whom belonged to BP-17 and 18.
Most of the officers, he added, were removed from service mainly due to absenteeism, for issuing fake medical certificates and professional negligence, etc.
To another question, the minister said Pakistan, according to the WHO criteria, fell within the medium endemicity of hepatitis- B (HBV) and hepatitis-C (HCV).
A recent survey conducted by the government showed that 4.5 per cent of blood donors were HCV positive while 2.5 per cent were infected with HBV.
Similarly, 8 per cent of health workers have been found HBV positive and 5.3 per cent HCV positive while 4.6 per cent among the community were HCV positive and 4.2 per cent HBV positive.
The government has made arrangements in its hospitals to screen blood before transfusion. The Punjab health department even provides blood screening facility for HBV and HCV in the tehsil level hospitals.
The health department of other provinces, including AJK and the Islamabad Capital Territory, provide the facility at the DHQ level hospitals.
The minister said the government had included HBV immunization of children under one year of age in the national immunization programme, carrying out blood screening to prevent the spread of HBV, enforcing the use of disposable syringes and destroying them after use, besides creating awareness about HBV through the health education campaign.
In addition, the national blood transfusion committee has formulated a blood policy and strategic framework to revamp blood transfusion services throughout the country.
A five year enhanced programme for blood safety has also been approved to improve blood transfusion services, he added.
About the vaccination, the minister said no vaccine was available for the HCV.
To another question, he denied the impression that life-saving medicines were not available in the Federal Government Services Hospital. He said the unavailable life-saving drugs were being provided to patients through local purchase.