ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has promulgated an ordinance to run the National Institute of Health (NIH) through a board of governors (BoG).

Sajid Shah, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), said the ordinance will not only improve the performance of the NIH and the Pakistan Health Research Council (PHRC) but will also help in addressing a number of issues such as delays in payment of salaries to the employees.

According to the draft of the ordinance, the goal of the ordinance is to reorganise the NIH.

“It is expedient to re-organise the NIH and to provide for an autonomous body to operate and manage institutes and centres for carrying out research and for the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases and health emergencies in Pakistan. The Senate and the National Assembly are not in session and the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action,” the draft dated Dec 19 stated.

Ministry spokesman says law to improve performance of National Institute of Health, Pakistan Health Research Council

“All intellectual property and legal rights relating to discoveries and inventions and any improvement in materials, methods, processes, apparatus or equipment made by any officer or employee of the NIH in the course of their employment shall vest in the NIH. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any contract or agreement or in the conditions of service, every person in the service of the NIH and the PHRC immediately, before the commencement of this Ordinance, shall stand transferred to the NIH and become an employee of the NIH,” it added.

All employees of the NIH and PHRC will be given one time option within three months to become employees of the NIH.

“The civil servants who opt for such employment shall be subject to terms and conditions of employment as prescribed by the BoG including but not limited to their service structure, promotion and disciplinary matters. Employees who opt for such employment shall be entitled to post-retirement benefits and emoluments for the period of their service as civil servants as per existing government laws and rules. A civil servant who does not exercise the option shall remain a civil servant under the Civil Servants Act 1973 and shall be repatriated to the administrative division.”

It is also mentioned that employees shall cease to be civil servants from the date of their absorption in the service of the NIH and their seniority and other matters vis-à-vis employment with the NIH shall be determined in the manner as may be prescribed by the board.

An official of the Ministry of NHS, requesting not to be quoted, said this was a similar ordinance promulgated for Pims.

“Employees will lose the status of civil servants and the BoG will get all powers to appoint new employees and even fire them. The employees will be sent to the surplus pool if they refused to surrender their civil servant status,” he said.

The NHS ministry spokesperson told Dawn that as per ordinance a BoG will be established to address the issues of the NIH and PHRC.

“There will be an executive director who will run the NIH and take prompt decisions. Status of employees will not be affected and they will continue to work as they have been working. The BoG will have powers to reallocate funds and ensure their appropriate use due to which performance of the NIH will be improved,” he said.

“Earlier, employees were suffering due to delay in payment of salaries as files used to move from one table to another but now all such issues will be addressed,” Mr Shah said.

Pims employees continue protest

PML-N leader and former federal minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday visited Pims to express solidarity with the protesting employees.

He assured the employees that their issue will be raised on the floor of parliament and the status of Pims will be restored to its previous position.

“I had fought for Pims’ restoration in the past and will strive for the reversal of the medical teaching institute (MTI) also. I assure you that your voice will be raised in National Assembly and Senate. The days of the government are numbered and the next government will be formed by PML-N,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Islamabad Zeeshan Naqvi also extended full support to the employees and vowed to march towards parliament.

Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan said the employees will hold a rally towards Parliament House on Dec 31.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2020