Doctors, nurses anxious for enquiry report


Sehrish Wasif June 09, 2010

ISLAMABAD: A report investigating the events surrounding the dispute between a former executive director (ED) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and its nurses due in mid-May is yet to be released.

Dr Ghazala Mehmood, for-mer Pims ED, allegedly ran over two of the nurses that had gathered outside Pims on April 29 to demand for an in increase in their salaries. The ensuing outrage of nurses resulted in Dr Mehmood’s resignation from her post. The matter was further complicated when Pims doctors went on protest in favour of Dr Mehmood, demanding that she be restored as the ED of Pims. The Ministry of Health launched a probe into the matter to appease the doctors, with its report due around the mid of May.

Federal Health Secretary Khushnood Ali Lashari told The Express Tribune on Wednesday that the report will be released in three to four days. But according to sources inside the ministry, the investigation into the matter was completed more than two weeks ago. The ministry has also forwarded a summary to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The summary proposes a list of doctors who could replace Dr Mehmood Jamal, the acting ED of Pims.

Dr Waseem Khawaja, a senior doctor at Pims, said the doctors were unhappy with the way the ministry was dealing with the situation. “Executive Director is a high post and Dr Mehmood was asked to resign just because of the protest held by the nurses. It does not make any sense,” he said. Pims has seen more than five EDs in the past two years, he added.

Dr Sajid Abbasi, President Young Doctors Association of Pims, said, “We are still waiting for the findings of the report.” His association was at the forefront of the doctors’ demand for the reinstatement of Dr Mehmood. “We called off the protest just because the Ministry of Health told us that they would find a definite solution to the problem after probing into the matter,” he added.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 10th, 2010.

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