Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Hours after the orders of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Monday reopened its Bone Marrow Transplant Centre (BMTC), confirmed PIMS Spokesman Dr Wasim Ahmad Khawaja.

He told Daily Times that the BMTC was reopened at 3pm, one hour before the deadline set by the CJP for its opening. He said three patients had been admitted at the centre until 4pm, adding that the centre could be filled to its capacity by today (Tuesday).

Earlier in the day, the CJP had directed PIMS authorities to reopen BMTC by 4pm Monday.

He also directed PIMS authorities to pay outstanding salaries and other dues of doctors and paramedical staff of BMTC.

He further directed that the sacked employees of BMTC be reinstated at the earliest, whereas the existing staff be asked to continue working until new appointments are made, so that the patients could be saved from further sufferings and agonies.

PIMS authorities were also directed to appoint the new staff through Federal Public Service Commission. At the onset of hearing, to a query by the chief justice that why the operation of the BMTC was shut down, PIMS administrator Dr Raja Amjad Mahmood, stated that it was closed after two doctors and a staff nurse were not offered permanent positions.

He stated that the PIMS’ authorities had written 13 letters to the Ministry of Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD), requesting it to offer permanent positions to the staff of BMTC, however, it did not accept the request, which consequently and apparently led to BMTC’s closure.

“Owing to criminal negligence and inefficiency of the executive authorities, the court has to perform the executive’s functions as well,” the chief justice maintained during the proceedings.

Earlier on March 29, the CJP had taken suo motu notice of reported closing down of BMTC at PIMS, Islamabad and asked for a report from the secretary of the CADD Ministry within three days.

The notice was taken on the application by parents of the children getting treatment of bone marrow at the centre. They had stated that bone marrow transplant was the only cure available to children with thalassaemia and around 500 children were on the waiting list for transplants.

The application had further stated that doctors, nurses and other staff at the centre have not been paid their salaries since July 2017 and they have now been told that their contracts will not be extended owing to administrative issues.

It had said the transplant at a private hospital costs around Rs 3 million, whereas it costs Rs 1 million at the PIMS, of which Rs 0.6 million are donated by Pakistan Baitul Maal.

The application had also asserted that there was apprehension of closure of the Cardiac Centre, while the liver transplant unit at PIMS has already been closed and the same is apparently for the benefit of private hospitals that are charging for more than the average citizen can afford.

Published in Daily Times, April 3^rd 2018.