PIMS employees end protest on minister’s assurances

Kiani says the new law will be made after consulting with employees of the hospital

ISLAMABAD: The federal health minister on Friday assured protesting staffers at the largest tertiary care hospital in the city that they have not passed any law which places the facility under a board of governors.

The assurances proved strong enough for the staffers to call off their protest.

Federal Health Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani met with the protesting staff at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and heard their complaints.

He said that thus far, no law has been passed on setting up a board of governors for the hospital. Kiani further assured staffers that any such document will only be finalised after consulting with them and by addressing their reservations on the new system.

He disclosed that a five-member team will work on finalising the draft law which will bring Pims under a board and that this team will decide matters as per the employees' will.

Kiani reiterated that health was one of the government’s foremost priorities.

Our government will eliminate the sense of deprivation in this sector which has been lingering for the past 70 years, he said, adding that the government wants to transform Pims into a hospital which ascribes to international standards.

Kiani said that he felt it was his responsibility to ensure that the workers get their rights in the legislation.

The federal minister announced that he has also asked the health secretary to withdraw a notification which suspended Pims employees, thereby reinstating them.

On assurance from the federal minister, the hospital's employees called off their protest.

Health budget for next fiscal

The health ministry has worked out budgetary proposals worth Rs32.82 billion in the next fiscal year 2019-20, for 99 developmental projects.

As per the budgetary suggestions prepared by the health ministry, Rs15.14 billion have been sought for 21 ongoing developmental projects while Rs17.53 billion have been sought for 78 new projects.

According to the budget documents available with Daily Express, the health ministry has sought Rs4.3 billion for the second phase of the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme. A further Rs1.58 billion have been sought for building a cancer hospital in the federal capital.

The ministry has sought Rs1.5 billion for creating a neuroscience centre at Pims, Rs2.43 billion for building the Islamabad General Hospital at Taralai, Rs24.41 million for creating a hematology disorder centre in Pims, Rs10.35 billion for vaccinations under the expanded programme on immunization (EPI), Rs6.8 million for a common unit for global funds system, Rs33.39 million for a Mother and Child Health (MNCH) programme in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), a further Rs15.496 million for a MNCH programme in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Rs4 million for MNCH programmes in other provinces, Rs15.44 million for population welfare programmes in AJK, Rs11.87 million for population welfare programmes in G-B, Rs11.1 million for population welfare programmes in erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Rs4 million for population welfare programme in the provinces, Rs4 million for tuberculosis control programme in provinces, Rs57.57 million for family planning and primary healthcare programme in AJK, Rs4 million for Prime Minister’s Programme for Hepatitis Control in the provinces, Rs4 million for a national blindness programme in the provinces.

For provinces malaria curbing, a programme worth Rs4 million has been included. For a national programme on viruses and influenzas in provinces Rs4 million have been earmarked, Rs25 million for a safe blood transfusion project, Rs70.19 million for purchasing and replacing worn out equipment at the Polyclinic hospital, Rs12.51 million for the health service capacity building programme, Rs2.52 million for upgrading and changing laboratory enamel facility at the national institute of Health (NIH), Rs68.53 million for maintenance of hostels at NIH,  Rs2.29 million for the national tobacco control cell, Rs1.24 million for installing a waste management plant at Pims, Rs68.35 million for a MCH centre in Pims’ ICU, Rs22.2 million for building a hostel for female doctors at Pims, Rs11.75 million to upgrade the capacity of Polyclinic’s ICU, Rs31.67 million for MRI purchases in Pims, Rs20 million for an organ transplant centre in Pims, and Rs10.88 million for the Pakistan nutrition programme and auxiliary funds for other projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2019.