ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has directed the administration of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to immediately remove non-performing employees, including doctors, warning that indecision and inefficiency were damaging the hospital’s functioning.
Kamal issued the directives during a visit to PIMS, where he inspected the cardiac centre, intensive care unit (ICU) and other facilities and spoke to patients and medical staff about the issues they were facing.
At the cardiac centre, the minister inspected the electrophysiology catheterisation laboratory and inquired from patients about their treatment and the facilities available to them.
He directed the hospital administration and staff to ensure the provision of quality medical care.
“Anyone who is not working should be removed immediately,” Kamal said, stressing that no one would be allowed to undermine the hospital’s functioning.
The minister also took notice of complaints regarding a shortage of beds at the cardiac centre and expressed displeasure over the poor condition of private rooms in the cardiac ward.
“The walls are in poor condition and you are only painting over them,” he told the administration, directing officials to properly supervise repair and maintenance work instead of relying on cosmetic fixes.
Kamal also directed newly appointed PIMS Executive Director Dr Salman to complete pending tasks without delay.
“You have been here for four days. Get your work done quickly,” the minister told the executive director.
During his inspection of the ICU, doctors briefed Kamal about shortages of beds, staff and essential equipment.
They said the PIMS ICU had only 10 beds and lacked adequate firefighting equipment.
According to the doctors, several items and facilities in the ICU had become unusable, while staff could only rely on cylinders in the event of a fire emergency.
The doctors also complained that despite repeated requests, additional beds had not been provided and the unit was facing a severe shortage of staff.
Kamal directed the hospital administration to take immediate action against employees who were failing to perform their duties.
He instructed the PIMS administration to send cases involving non-performing employees to him, adding that he would personally take action, including removal from service if necessary.
The minister also warned doctors and other staff against harsh behaviour towards patients and directed the administration to arrange training aimed at improving staff conduct.
“People’s lives are involved,” Kamal said, adding that he would personally visit PIMS regularly to monitor its functioning.
He directed the executive director to focus on immediate improvements instead of spending months trying to understand the hospital’s system.
“You will not get six months to understand the hospital’s system. Work immediately,” Kamal told the executive director.
The minister ordered daily monitoring of repair and maintenance work across the hospital and directed the administration to prepare a one-page proposal outlining a new administrative model and the transfer of powers at PIMS.
