Islamabad: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has instructed the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) administration to promptly dismiss employees, including doctors, who are failing to meet performance standards. He emphasized that indecisiveness and inefficiency were harming the hospital’s operations.
During his visit to PIMS, Kamal inspected the cardiac centre, intensive care unit (ICU), and other facilities, engaging with patients and medical staff to understand the challenges they face. At the cardiac centre, he examined the electrophysiology catheterisation laboratory and inquired about the quality of treatment and services provided.
The minister urged hospital management and staff to guarantee high-quality medical care, stating that anyone not fulfilling their responsibilities should be removed without delay. He stressed that no individual would be allowed to disrupt the hospital’s functioning.
Kamal also addressed complaints regarding a shortage of beds at the cardiac centre and expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of private rooms in the cardiac ward. He criticized superficial maintenance efforts, instructing the administration to oversee thorough repair work rather than merely repainting damaged walls.
In a significant development, Kamal directed the newly appointed PIMS Executive Director, Dr. Salman, to expedite pending tasks. “You have been here for four days. Complete your work swiftly,” the minister emphasized.
During his inspection of the ICU, doctors informed Kamal about critical shortages, including limited beds, insufficient staff, and inadequate essential equipment. They revealed that the ICU currently has only 10 beds and lacks proper fire-fighting gear, relying solely on cylinders in emergencies. Several ICU facilities and items were reported to be unusable, and despite repeated requests, no additional beds have been provided, exacerbating staff shortages.
Responding to these issues, Kamal ordered immediate action against non-performing employees and instructed the administration to forward such cases to him. He vowed to personally remove staff members if necessary to improve hospital efficiency.
The minister also cautioned doctors against harsh behavior toward patients and mandated training to enhance staff conduct. “People’s lives are at stake,” he remarked, committing to regular visits to PIMS to oversee its operations.
Kamal further instructed the executive director to prioritize immediate improvements rather than spending months familiarizing himself with the hospital’s system. “You will not get six months to understand the hospital’s system. Act immediately,” he asserted.
He ordered daily supervision of repair and maintenance activities and requested the administration to prepare concise proposals for a new administrative model and the delegation of powers at PIMS, all summarized on a single page.
