Ombudsman’s report on PIMS: Staff moonlighting at nearby private labs

Close links found between physicians and private labs, including cross-referrals

ISLAMABAD: More than 90 per cent of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims)’s pathology department staffers also work at private labs close to the hospital.

This creates a serious conflict-of-interest and is the root cause of corruption and performance issues in the pathology department. Around  three-fourth gross misuse of pathology laboratory services is in vogue due to indiscriminate prescription practices,” says a report titled “Transforming Pims Islamabad into a Leading Centre of Excellence’” – a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune.

The report has been compiled by a committee constituted by the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat about the quality of services, infrastructure, and security at the hospital, and to make recommendations for the smooth, effective and efficient functioning of the institution in accordance with the objectives for which it was established.

“A significant proportion of Pims lab samples, and routine and specialised investigations are sent to private pathology labs in the vicinity of the hospital. Many of these samples are actually tested at Pims labs as the staff in both places is common,” says the report.

While carrying out the study, well-established links were found between prescribing physicians and private lab, which makes both parties healthy, if unscrupulous, revenues.

The report paints a gloomy picture of the pathology department, stating that it lacks financial resources to upgrade itself and there is a shortage of trained technical staff on hand.

“Support services inside the pathology department such as sanitation and air-conditioning...are extremely poor and obsolete, which itself reflects the condition and environment of the department,” says the report.

The report also highlights the gross misuse of pathology lab services by the accident and emergency department and staff members. Furthermore, laboratory charges have not been revised since 1986 and due to lack of monitoring, many patients who are not entitled to free treatment get their work done free due to affiliations with staff.

The report says that a majority of pathology staff, including consultants, doctors, technicians, seemed more interested in private practice than their duties at Pims.

“This is another major reason behind the poor performance of pathology department,” says the report.

The report further finds that Pims used to carry out specialised investigations such as thyroid, and fertility on subsidised rates, but these had to be discontinued due to financial constraints and lack of trained staff.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Hafiz Ahsan Ahmad Khokhar, senior adviser and grievance commissioner of overseas Pakistanis to the federal ombudsman, said all-out efforts were being made to improve each and every department of the hospital. “A list of recommendations has been shared with the Pims administration to improve and make its pathology department corruption-free,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2016.