CJP designates Express News reporter as focal person for two hospitals in capital

CJ Saqib Nisar expresses annoyance over patients lying in corridors

ISLAMABAD: To stay updated with issues at two of the largest public hospitals in the capital, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has designated Express News reporter Razia Khan as his focal person.

She has been tasked with informing the CJP about issues faced by the patients and hospital staff at two major public hospitals in the city.

The designation came as CJP Nisar embarked on a surprise visit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Tuesday.

He visited the emergency and outpatient departments along with the private and other wards and centres of the hospital.

Noting that services at the largest tertiary care hospital in the capital had improved over the past two months, the chief justice of Pakistan pointed out a shortage of beds and rooms at the facility and directed to further improve services of the next two months.



Noticing the CJP walking through the wards, patients started telling him about their issues. CJP Nisar, though, referred these to the Pims Executive Director Raja Amjad to resolve.

After the media had pointed to the pathetic condition of some wards, the CJP visited Surgical Ward-3 of Pims where he saw patients lying on stretchers.

At this, he asked whether there was a shortage of beds. He also expressed his annoyance over patients lying in corridors. He noted that the new management of the hospital had brought a visible change in the services at the hospital but there was room for additional improvement.

He directed the Pims administration to focus on patient care, address their issues and to further to improve the condition and facilities at the hospital within two months saying that he will be back to review the progress.

Some journalists covering the visit told the CJP that there were several departments at the hospital which were still head-less while many vacancies are still unfilled.

At this, Chief Justice Nisar remarked that he had asked the hospital administration and the government to fill the vacant slots.

He, however, also gave the Pims administration the benefit of doubt, noting that “wards are not built in a day or two, the Pims administration is trying to resolve issues, give them some time.”



Thankful employees

The CJ also visited the cardiac centre of Pims where the staffers thanked him for helping release their salaries.

In a suo motu case in April, the CJ had stopped the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) from closing the centre. Instead, he had directed the division to release the salaries of the centre’s staff.

During his visit on Tuesday, the CJP appreciated the work of the healthcare staff at the centre who kept on working even without salaries.

He added that CAAD should release money for Pims as soon as possible.

“Infrastructure and facilities are improving in the hospital,” the CJP said, adding that he wanted to improve them further for the benefit of patients.

He added that if any donation was required for Pims’ patients, then he will provide stretchers and wheelchairs.

Moreover, he said that all government officials will now be treated in Pims.

Referring to the strikes by doctors and other staff over various issues, the CJP said that no strike was allowed in Pims and asked the doctors to report to their duty stations on time and focus on patient care.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2018.