Employees give 7-day deadline

Islamabad

The call for separation of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) from Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) grew more emphatic Monday when the leadership of the PIMS Restoration Movement (PRM) announced progressive suspension of outpatient and emergency services at the hospital from August 22, if the government delays action on its demands beyond a week.

The deadline was served at a press conference convened at the College of Nursing and Medical Technology, where the chairman of PRM Dr. Asfandyar Khan articulated key demands. PRM is a body that consists of elected representatives of Federal Doctors Association, PIMS Officers Welfare Association, PIMS Nursing Association, and Non-Gazetted Welfare Association (Inqilab Group).

“We want the Standing Committee to immediately pass the long-pending Amendment Bill for separation of PIMS from SZABMU; we want the Bill to be tabled in the ongoing session of the National Assembly; and we want inclusion of PIMS in Schedule III for restoration of seized facilities,” Dr. Asfandyar stated in the presence of affected professors, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and support staff of PIMS. He was flanked on the head table by PRM’s vice chairman Syed Zameer Hussain Naqvi, among others.

Referring to media reports about the constitution of a National Reforms Committee entrusted with the task of bringing all federal government hospitals under a single umbrella, Dr. Asfandyar said, “While we will wholeheartedly welcome any step taken to bring all federal hospitals under a central directorate or a federal ministry, there will be strong resistance and protest if these hospitals are placed under the control of an autonomous board.”

Dr. Asfandyar hoped that the government will take urgent action on PRM’s demands in view of “the current deplorable state of PIMS, increasing anxiety facing its employees, and the miserable plight of patients visiting the hospital for medical treatment.” He termed “the perpetual downfall of PIMS ever since its merger with SZABMU” a dilemma that cannot be ignored any further.

Dr. Asfandyar warned that if the stalemate over separation of PIMS from SZABMU continues, the PRM, in exercise of its lawful right to protest, will suspend the OPD at PIMS with effect from August 22, followed by closure of the emergency department. “It has become customary for the government to turn a deaf ear to genuine demands until people take to the streets. We have served enough warnings;this time, the government alone will be responsible for the consequences of our protest,” he added.

Responding to a query, Dr. Asfandyar highlighted the implications of the merger for PIMS employees. “Many federal government organisations and departments have suspended various entitlements of PIMS employees; the Estate Office has refused allotment of houses and flats to PIMS employees and has ordered payment of standard rent by those already availing the facility; the Housing Foundation has halted allotment of plots and flats and has cancelled allotments that had been made; the Benevolent Fund has suspended stipends for children of PIMS employees; and the AGPR has stopped giving advances. These measures have been taken on the plea that PIMS employees are not federal government civil servants and that SZABMU is now their custodian.The only injustice that remains is to deprive us of our salaries and pensions as well,” he angrily remarked.

The PRM chairman also highlighted how the merger has led to deterioration of PIMS as a hospital. “PIMS was established as a national welfare institution for provision of free medical treatment to government employees, and poor and deserving patients. More than 10 lakh patients benefit from services offered in the hospital’s OPD, wards, and OTs, as well as from diagnostic procedural support. Of these 38% of the patients are government employees and civil servants; 60% are poor patients who cannot afford the catastrophic expenditure that treatment in private hospitals entails; and 2% are private patients. This hospital was the only ray of hope for poor patients living in Islamabad Capital Territory and its outskirts, as well as those coming from distant and far-flung areas of the country. Not anymore,” he asserted.

“Today, PIMS is on the path to destruction. No new equipment has been installed, either in the OPD or in diagnostic areas; on the contrary, even old machines are mal-functioning or in dire need of maintenance. The air-conditioning system has not been repaired for over six years; the operation theatres too are without air-conditioning. Patients are forced to bring their own fans. The indoor temperature of the capital’s largest tertiary care hospital is worse than that of a tehsil headquarters hospital,” Dr. Asfandyar said.

The media was told that no appointments have been made against posts vacated upon retirement of senior employees. “Favoritism is rife and only the blue-eyed employees of the VC and the Ministry of CADD are promoted. The poor state of cleanliness is too blatant to remain ignored. There has been a manifold increase in the number of patients visiting the hospital, and a 30 per cent decline in the number of support staff, but nobody is bothered,” the PRM chief pointed out.

Dr. Asfandyar alleged that the Vice Chancellor of SZABMU has never made a round of these areas to see the sufferings of patients. “On the contrary, he is always busy holding meetings aimed at strengthening of the university. PIMS budget is being diverted to SZABMU,” he added, demanding an audit of the facilities being availed by the VC’s subordinate staff (beyond their entitlement).

The PRM chief maintained that the recommendations of the Federal Ombudsman for separation of PIMS from SZABMU have also been totally ignored. “Moreover, even the Higher Education Commission, which provides academic funding to various universities, has expressed its inability to run the hospital.”

The Association of PIMS Employees urged the government to fulfil the commitments against which it attracts public votes, and not to force PIMS employees to snatch their rights. “We will not accept the university flourishing at the cost of PIMS,” they unanimously concluded.