KARACHI: Representatives of civil society organisations, trade unions and the Pakistan Medical Association have expressed their concerns over last week’s raid carried out by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD).

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, they said that the NICVD was providing unique round-the-clock services of primary angiography and angioplasty and other heart ailments to common people free of cost.

The hospital, in the last many years, has established itself as one of the best public-sector facilities not only in Sindh, where it has a network of 28 facilities, but in the entire country, too, with highly qualified doctors and other staff.

Therefore, targeting such a health facility is beyond comprehension and deserves strong condemnation, they felt.

Trade unionists, rights activists and health experts demand an inquiry against the anti-graft watchdog for raiding hospital

“The NICVD gets funds from the government of Sindh but it is an autonomous body governed by a governing body and is fully independent in its functioning. No formal corruption charges have ever been proved against the facility and the public in general is witness of the best services provided. It is ironic then that the bureau, instead of conducting an inquiry against the real culprits, chose to target a hospital with good reputation. Nobody here buys these charges or allegations against it,” said Karamat Ali, executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER).

Raid termed illegal

“The way NAB raided the hospital where hundreds of heart patients were under treatment is illogical, illegal, and immoral and in disregard to all basic principles and values. This action resulted in halting the services by the hospital staff in protest and created panic among the patients and their [attendants]. NAB is liable to be sued for damages by hospital staff, patients, their [attendants] and the public in general,” he said.

“We have spoken to the management of NICVD and according to them NAB did not give them any prior intimation and the hospital had provided all the record required by the bureau and was fully cooperating. The fictitious NAB inquiry was going on for the last couple of years. Whenever NAB asked for the record, it was provided with it, in hard and soft copies in a timely manner,” said Dr Tipu Sultan of the PMA.

“We also observe interference of federal institutions in the affairs of the provincial government of Sindh as evident from the attempt to occupy the twin islands, the IGP case and this latest interference in the hospital,” said Habibuddin Junaidi of the Peoples Labour Bureau.

“It is on record that the federal government wants to take over control of the hospital. This interference is unconstitutional, unacceptable and against the spirit of provincial autonomy as provided through the 18th Amendment,” he added.

“Health is a basic right of citizens and it is the responsibility of the state to provide this right. However, a large majority of people are deprived of this right and when institutions such as NICVD try to provide such services, they are targeted and maligned and harassed. We consider this as an attack on the fundamental rights of millions of people,” said Asad Iqbal Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

“We are not against transparency and accountability and would welcome any serious efforts of establishing a credible mechanism in this regard. However, NAB has lost its credibility and legitimacy and its action against NICVD is one such example of abuse of power,” said Mehnaz Rehman of the Aurat Foundation.

NAB’s apology sought

“Given these facts we would like to demand an apology from the bureau for raiding NICVD, harassing its staff and creating panic among its patients. We also want an inquiry against NAB officials who are misusing their power and violating the basic principles of justice. We also demand that the federal government and institutions under it stop interfering in the affairs of the provincial government of Sindh,” said Nasir Mansoor of the National Trade Union Federation.

It was unanimously demanded that the federal government must clarify its position whether it wants to take over the control of the NICVD and the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

“We also want to make it clear that any interference or unjustified actions against NICVD would be considered an attempt of snatching the right to health facilities from the poor working class and we would resist it by all means. And finally, if NAB does not refrain from such misadventures, we would resist it through legal means and by public protest since we stand in solidarity and support of NICVD, its management, staff and patients who receive treatment from this world-class free-of-cost health facility,” they said.

Fahim Siddiqui of the Karachi Union of Journalists, Saeed Baloch of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Farhat Parveen of NOW Communities, Bushra Arain of Lady Health Workers, Zehra Khan of Home Based Women Workers Federation and social activist Naghma Iqtedar also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2020