Serving Generals of Pak Army Medical Corps to be appointed as heads of Islamabad Government Hospitals?
Shares
A communication from the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations (MoNHSR) to the Ministry of Defence created a stir in the headlines on Sunday due to a controversial proposal detailed in the letter. The message from MoNHSR underscored the pressing need to fill two vacant executive director (ED) positions at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic. This was seen as essential for ensuring the effective delivery of healthcare services within the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
As a temporary solution, the caretaker government has requested qualified hospital managers from the Pakistan Army Medical Corps at the BS-21 level to assume these roles on deputation for a three-year period, as reported by Dawn news on Sunday.
While this decision faced resistance from the medical community, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) defended it as a necessary step to enhance patient care and streamline hospital operations. The move was prompted by the unavailability of qualified candidates within the existing medical cadre for the crucial role of executive director in these hospitals.
A senior official within the health ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, was quoted in the Dawn report. This official suggested that appointing military officers might bring discipline and improved healthcare to these hospitals.
Allegations were made regarding punctuality and professionalism issues among senior and junior doctors and paramedics. Additionally, claims arose that some doctors at these hospitals were conducting unnecessary tests at external facilities they owned, adding to patient burdens.
However, a senior doctor at PIMS expressed frustration with the decision and considered it "unfortunate." This doctor voiced concerns about the growing trend of appointing military officers to head institutions nationwide, citing corruption as the pretext. They advocated for the appointment of competent civilian professionals and questioned the armed forces' emphasis on timekeeping over the quality of work.
The decision has raised concerns within the medical community, with some professionals 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 insisted that the decision was necessary and would address many of the complaints and issues faced by these hospitals, highlighting the government's commitment to reforming the healthcare sector.
