On Tuesday, the employees of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) decided to suspend all their services except the ones in the coronavirus wards and emergency units.
This decision was based on the government’s disregard of the employees’ demands to abolish the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance that had been promulgated by the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, in November.
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The reason the PIMS employees did not close the coronavirus wards and emergency units is that they believe it is the obligation of every doctor to treat emergency cases.
However, the protestors have decided to shut down the Children’s Hospital and the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) outpatient departments (OPDs) from Wednesday.
They have also clearly stated that no new patients will be admitted in the wards and that the admitted patients will be treated until they are discharged.
Furthermore, all elective surgeries have been halted, and this situation will impact the patients who had been allotted surgery dates many months ago.
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According to the Young Consultants Association of Pakistan Chairman, Dr. Asfandyar Khan, even though employees want reforms, it does not mean that they will consent to the privatization of hospitals.
Dr. Khan revealed that the government had been given a deadline of three days that it had ignored.
“We went on a token strike of two hours daily but even then, the government showed no concern. Now we are left with no option but to go for the complete closure and total withdrawal of services. From Wednesday, kitchens, stores, administration, MCH, engineering department, and all other offices will remain closed,” he stated.
The issue, as unveiled by Dr. Khan, is that if PIMS is converted into an MTI, it will operate via a Board of Governors (BOG).
The spokesperson for Grand Health Alliance, Dr. Hyder Abbasi, said that even though they had tried to avoid the protest, the reconsideration of the government had rendered the protest unavoidable.
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