House job: Hospitals told to pay doctors’ wages on time

SC rules that if hospitals fail to pay by the 10th of every month, their heads will be held responsible

ISLAMABAD: The top court on Friday directed private hospitals to ensure that doctors, who are doing their house jobs, are paid by the 10th of every month.

This was directed by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, as the court heard a case relating to payment to house job doctors.

At the beginning of Friday’s hearing, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) chief told the court that private hospitals are obligated to pay doctors who are on house jobs.

But for the doctors to even get the Rs40,000 which are due to them every month, they have to get a recommendation.

The Pims chief lamented that rules of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) were not being followed.

At this, CJP Nisar said that the top court had a new law for PMDC drafted which was sent to the government. Despite many months passing, the government has yet to have the draft legislated.

The draft law, the court pointed out, stated that private hospitals will pay doctors doing house jobs.

The additional attorney general told the court that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had approved the draft law and that it will now be presented before the parliament.

At this CJP Nisar remarked that if the government does not want to legislate over the matter, then the government should pay the house job doctors.

The court ruled that private hospitals were bound to pay house job doctors and that hospitals should pay them by the 10th of every month either directly or through the relevant hospitals.

Should the hospitals fail to pay the doctors doing house jobs, the heads of the respective hospitals will be held responsible.

Transfer of hospitals

An SC bench, led by CJP Nisar, heard on Friday a petition relating to the transfer of hospitals operated by the federal government to the provinces under the 18th Amendment.

During Friday’s hearing, the counsel informed the bench that the case has been pending with the Lahore High Court (LHC).

A lawyer for the Sindh government argued that the court had directed on June 9 for the constitution of a larger bench to hear the case.

The CJP, however, asked, which hospitals in Sindh were under the control of the federal government.

Sindh’s counsel pleaded for more time for the case.

The court adjourned the hearing till January 3.

The 18th amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan on April 19, 2010, enhanced the provincial autonomy and devolved several federal ministries to the provinces including the portfolio of health.

After the passage of the amendment scores of federally government hospitals also devolved to the provincial health departments.

The Jinnah Hospital, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) have been under federal control.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2018.