ISLAMABAD: A large number of politicians, representatives of trade unions and traders, doctors and medical students on Tuesday reached Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) to express solidarity with the employees protesting against alleged privatisation of the hospital.

Last month, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance under which the hospital will be run through a board of governors (BoG).

According to the ordinance, the BoG will deal with all affairs of Pims once it becomes an MTI. The BoG members have been appointed and notified by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on the recommendation of a search and nomination council.

They also held a meeting and elected Dr Hamayun Mahmand as the chairman of the BoG. The BoG has overall superintendence and control over the functions of the hospital.

Aftab Sherpao says he will oppose making hospital a corporate body both inside and outside parliament

However, the employees have been protesting and demanding withdrawal of the ordinance. They have suspended all services except in the emergency and Covid-19 wards.

On Tuesday, former interior minister Aftab Sherpao visited Pims and announced that he will oppose making Pims a corporate body both inside and outside parliament.

He appreciated the services of Pims doctors and staff and said he was indebted to the hospital employees for their services to his son who was injured in a blast in 2008.

Former PML-N MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan said his party will stand against the ordinance and will support the staff of Pims at every platform.

A political worker of PML-N, Raja Waqar Mumtaz, vowed to bring his workers to join the march if the protesters march towards D- Chowk or Banigala.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) MNA Aagha Shahi assured the Pims employees of his full support and said his party will resist the ordinance at every forum.

Similarly, leaders of Awami National Party and 22 organisations of federal employees met the protesters at Pims to show solidarity with them. Grand Health Alliance (GHA) Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan while announcing the future strategy said it will include making a human chain, visiting all sectors of Islamabad for public awareness and then holding a protest outside parliament during the forthcoming session of the Senate starting from Dec 30.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2020