Ministry seeks new PIMS chief as top officials cross swords

After top officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) crossed swords after the restoration of the hospital’s previous status, the federal health ministry has sent a summary to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking to appoint an acting executive director to run the affairs of the largest public sector hospital of the federal capital.

Earlier, the federal health ministry gave Dr Rizwan Taj the charge of the hospital and appointed him as the acting executive director, however, soon after assuming the role, he not only nullified all appointments made by PIMS Joint Executive Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Durrani — when the hospital was functioning under the Federal Medical Teaching Institute Act 2021 — but also got an FIR registered at the Karachi Company Police Station against Dr Durrani and others.

Earlier, President Dr Arif Alvi signed the bill titled “Federal Medical Teaching Institute Repeal Bill 2022”, repealing the Federal Medical Teaching Institute Act 2021 and restoring the PIMS Hospital’s previous status.

Sources said that after the top officials locked horns, the health ministry has sent a summary to the PM Office seeking to appoint a new acting executive director for at least three months or until a permanent executive director was appointed.

According to the sources, the summary containing the names of Dr Malik Naeem, Prof Rana Imran and Prof Dr Tariq Iqbal had been sent to the PM’s Office with a recommendation to pick a name for the top slot. According to the sources, the summary has sought to appoint Dr Malik Naeem as the new acting executive director of the hospital. However, this appointment will also be on a temporary basis for three months or until the appointment of a permanent executive director, the sources said.

Earlier, the health ministry gave responsibilities to Dr Rizwan to look after the day-to-day affairs of the hospital, however, he attempted to disturb the peace at the hospital and the ministry to brass expressed their dismay over his actions.

Sources also claimed that the performance of Dr Rizwan Taj as dean of MTI was also not satisfactory.

According to the sources, the FIR was registered at the Karachi Company Police Station against Dr Iqbal Durrani and others after they allegedly removed the nameplates of some officers who had been appointed when the hospital was functioning under the MTI Act.

In the FIR filed on behalf of Joint Executive Director Chaudhry Waris, it has been stated that on the evening of January 11, the security staff of PIMS, at the behest of Dr Iqbal Durrani, removed the nameplates of Dr Khalid Masood and Dr Hashim Raza, who are holding key posts at the hospital.

The FIR said that the act of Dr Durrani and the security staff has caused serious consternation among the management officials and PIMS employees. It said that such acts were tantamount to disturbing and endangering the peace at the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2023.