A communication from the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations(MoNHSR) to the Ministry of Defence created a stir in the headlines onSunday due to a controversial proposal detailed in the letter. The messagefrom MoNHSR underscored the pressing need to fill two vacant executivedirector (ED) positions at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS)and Polyclinic. This was seen as essential for ensuring the effectivedelivery of healthcare services within the Islamabad Capital Territory(ICT).
As a temporary solution, the caretaker government has requested qualifiedhospital managers from the Pakistan Army Medical Corps at the BS-21 levelto assume these roles on deputation for a three-year period, as reported byDawn news on Sunday.
While this decision faced resistance from the medical community, theMinistry of National Health Services (NHS) defended it as a necessary stepto enhance patient care and streamline hospital operations. The move wasprompted by the unavailability of qualified candidates within the existingmedical cadre for the crucial role of executive director in these hospitals.
A senior official within the health ministry, speaking on condition ofanonymity, was quoted in the Dawn report. This official suggested thatappointing military officers might bring discipline and improved healthcareto these hospitals.
Allegations were made regarding punctuality and professionalism issuesamong senior and junior doctors and paramedics. Additionally, claims arosethat some doctors at these hospitals were conducting unnecessary tests atexternal facilities they owned, adding to patient burdens.
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However, a senior doctor at PIMS expressed frustration with the decisionand considered it “unfortunate.” This doctor voiced concerns about thegrowing trend of appointing military officers to head institutionsnationwide, citing corruption as the pretext. They advocated for theappointment of competent civilian professionals and questioned the armedforces’ emphasis on timekeeping over the quality of work.
The decision has raised concerns within the medical community, with someprofessionals fearing that the shortage of healthcare workers could worsen,as qualified doctors might opt to leave the public health sector.
Despite these concerns, Ministry of Health spokesperson Sajid Shah insistedthat the decision was necessary and would address many of the complaintsand issues faced by these hospitals, highlighting the government’scommitment to reforming the healthcare sector.