Striking doctors: Yet another protest threat

This will make our jobs insecure and deprive us from all perks and privileges: doctor.

ISLAMABAD:

The staff of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Friday issued yet another protest-threat to the Ministry of Health. Strongly condemning the government’s decision to grant autonomy to the hospital after devolution of the health ministry under 18th amendment, they threatened to go on complete strike.

They said that the protest will continue until the decision was revoked.

In a meeting held in the hospital, which was attended by heads of all the medical and non-medical staff associations, the staff expressed serious reservation over the initiative. “This will make our jobs insecure and deprive us from all perks and privileges,” said a doctor who was a part of the meeting.

The doctors along with other staff were of the view that granting autonomy to the hospital will be disastrous for them. “It [hospital] will be run by a few people who will be authorised to do whatever they want to,” said another official.

Dr Saeedullah Jan, office secretary of All Pakistan Paramedic Association said if this will happen then the staff serving for the last 20-30 years will lose all the benefits. These were listed as pension after job, facilities for educating their children, participation in government schemes among others.

The Express Tribune tried to contact Mehmood Jamal, executive director Pims but he was not available for comment.

According to sources, government is planning to make three hospitals of the capital, Pims, Polyclinic and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Hospital, autonomous after the devolution of the Ministry of Health. The other option is that they might operate under the cabinet division.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2011.