The doctors and paramedical staff of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) staged a sit-in at D-Chowk against the implementation of the Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) Act at the public hospital.
The protesters claim that the Act, which allows private practice in evening to consultants and charges for various laboratory and radiological tests, was akin to the privatisation of the capital’s largest tertiary hospital that otherwise offers free healthcare.
The medical staff members have been holding regular protests against MTI at the hospital premises for the last 50 days.
Jamate Islami (JI) Chief Senator Sirajul Haq joined the protestors at D-Chowk. He riled the government on the destruction of education and health sectors in the country.
While addressing the protesters the JI chief said that after the destruction of the education sector, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government also brought the health sector to the edge of ruin.
He expressed that even aspirins were not available in public hospitals for the poor. The ruling class travels abroad for treatment but the poor are forced to make rounds to the hospitals to avail the facility, he added.
Haq said that running hospitals on a contractual basis was a conspiracy against free healthcare services available to people. PTI’s claims of bringing health reforms in the K-P proved to be a hoax and now it is bent on destroying the remnants system in the country, he added.
JI chief commented that the incumbent government was implementing a policy to run the country on ad-hoc basis and foresighted that it would not be successful.
He criticised that Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed of having a team of 200 economic experts who have not become visible after 30 months in power.
Haq asserted that the country was being run at the behest of the IMF and World Bank while advisers were being imported from abroad.
Senator remarked that the nation was unaware of who was writing their futures, adding that democracy could never succeed in a country under a hostage political system.
“Pakistan has been ruled by the elite since independence that has not taken significant steps for the welfare of the people and the strengthening of institutions”, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2021.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ