RIC penalises six employees

Makes signing of Zakat form mandatory for free baseline tests

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) high-ups have dismissed three lowest-grade employees from service and transferred two others to other hospitals in the province.

Three regular employees were transferred on the orders of the provincial secretary of health without following the usual I&D proceedings. One of the employees, Abdul Shakoor, a washer, has been instructed not to enter the RIC’s premises again. He has been directed to report to the department, with the arrangements to deliver his final salary payment certificate at his home.

Two other employees, Muhammad Sajid, a tailor, and Sajjad Haider, a slip clerk, have been transferred to Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital and Parvez Elahi Institute of Cardiology respectively. Three temporary employees listed in the personal ledger account of RIC, who were employed for the past seven years, were dismissed from service instead of extending their contracts as originally planned. They are senior clerk Muhammad Waqas, cushion maker Khalilur Rehman and instrument washer Imaad.

RIC Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Ayaz Haider could not be reached for his version on the dismissal of three employees and transfer of three junior employees to Bahawalpur despite repeated attempts.

‘Zakat forms mandatory’

Meanwhile, RIC has made signing of the Zakat form mandatory for patients for free routine type (baseline) tests.

The practice of conducting these tests on a free basis by interviewing the patient through an appointed authority has been followed in the past, which has now been replaced. The new rule has created difficulties for the patients.

The free facility of tests on the Zakat form was previously available for CT Scan, MRI, angiography or major surgery. Now the free facility of baseline tests is linked to the Zakat form, forcing the patients to pay for the baseline tests. MS Dr Ayaz Haider was not available for his version despite many attempts to contact him on his mobile and landline numbers.