ISLAMABAD: The employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Monday held a protest against the government decision to convert the hospital into a medical teaching institution (MTI).

They announced to continue their protest till the MTI ordinance recently promulgated by President Dr Arif Alvi is withdrawn. The employees also held a rally from the main hospital to the Mother and Child Hospital.

Young Consultants Association of Pakistan Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan said all employees of Pims were united against the government move.

“If Pims is turned into MTI, we will lose all our rights and benefits. We have rejected the ordinance as our demands agreed to by former special assistant to prime minister on health Dr Zafar Mirza and ex-health secretary Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik were ignored while promulgating the ordinance,” he said.

Say protest will continue till MTI ordinance is withdrawn

Addressing a gathering, Grand Health Alliance (GHA) spokesperson Dr Hyder Abbasi said the employees would not compromise on their rights.

“Last year, it was decided with the health ministry that the status of civil servants will not be changed under the ordinance. Moreover, a number of other proposals given by the hospital staff were not considered,” he said.

GHA Vice Chairman Riaz Gujjar said all employees of Pims had decided to resist the ordinance.

Another leader of the AGA, Tanveer Noshahi, said while the employees were busy in combating Covid-19 the government promulgated the ordinance.

“According to the ordinance, Pims will be run through a board of governors and we fear that businessmen will be appointed as members of the board because the hospital would have to generate revenue,” he said.

Dr Mehboob, Dr Faiz Achakzai, Mohammad Hanif, Arshad Khan, Sadaqat Awan, Chaudhry Anas, Jawad Khan, Saeedullah Marwat, Taruq Mattu and other GHA leaders also addressed the gathering.

The BoG will deal with all affairs of Pims once it becomes an MTI. The members shall be appointed and notified by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on the commendation of a search and nomination council and will hold office for three years and will be eligible for re-appointment.

Autonomy would be given to the hospital by declaring it MTI. The BoG shall have overall superintendence and control over the functions of the hospital. No serving civil servant or government officer shall become a member of the BoG. Its chairperson shall be elected by the members through voting from amongst themselves. In case of his absence, the chairperson may nominate a board member as the acting chairperson or if he has not done so the members present shall elect an acting chairperson for a meeting.

The BoG shall appoint deans, the hospital, medical, nursing and finance directors of the hospital.

All employees, except the dean, hospital, medical, nursing and finance directors, shall have the right to appeal against any penalty, censure or termination of their employment to the BoG.

Moreover, any employee aggrieved by a decision of the BoG may seek resolution of the grievance from the board of arbitration for Pims as established by the ministry. The decision of the board of arbitration shall be final in all respects.

Pending cases of employees in courts would be transferred with immediate effect for adjudication to the board of arbitration.

The ministry shall establish by way of a notification a board of arbitration for Pims and frame dispute resolution rules for the functioning of the board of arbitration. This board shall consist of a minimum of six arbitrators nominated by the ministry.

Employees who opt for private practice within the premises of the hospital, clinics, imaging facilities and laboratories of Pims may be entitled to such increase in salary, adjustment, bonuses or other ancillary benefits as the board may approve.

Those who do not opt for private practice within the premises of the hospital, clinics, imaging facilities and laboratories shall be allowed to do their private practice outside the premises but shall not be entitled to any increase in adjustment, incentives, bonuses or other ancillary benefits.

Private patient billing shall consist of the professional fee component and the institutional charges representing the charges of the clinic, imaging facility, laboratory services or other institutional charges.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020