Employees of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have warned of resistance against a proposal to make the hospital’s cardiac centre an autonomous body. They fear the move could pave the way for privatisation and affect free treatment for patients.
According to officials, a meeting of the committee formed to examine the establishment of an autonomous cardiac centre was recently held in Islamabad. The session was chaired by retired Maj Gen Dr Azhar Mahmood Kayani and the Special Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
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The meeting discussed legally viable and financially sustainable options for granting autonomy to the cardiac centre while protecting the service conditions of existing employees. Participants emphasised that any new model should not alter the terms and conditions of staff currently working at Pims.
Pims Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikander cautioned that previous attempts to grant autonomy to the hospital had resulted in employee unrest, strikes and disruption of services. He stressed the need for careful planning to avoid similar consequences.
The committee considered a proposal to grant autonomy only to the cardiac centre, with separate governance and budgetary arrangements, while keeping it attached to the health ministry. Members noted that such a move might require legal examination and possible amendments to the Pims Act 2023.
Officials also discussed the need to make the cardiac centre financially sustainable while ensuring free or subsidised treatment for poor patients. The cardiology department highlighted existing services as well as gaps, including the absence of paediatric cardiology and outdated equipment.
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However, employee representatives strongly opposed the proposal. Federal Health Alliance chairman Chaudhry Qamar Gujjar alleged that the move was aimed at privatising the hospital in phases, ultimately burdening patients with fees.
He said the employees’ body would use all available options, including protests and legal action, to stop the plan. The committee is expected to seek a legal opinion from the Ministry of Law before finalising its recommendations for submission to the Prime Minister’s Office.