PIMS admin, doctors asked to ensure courteous and proper healthcare of patients

Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday recommended to the government to increase annual budget of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and approve the extension of Polyclinic hospital up to Argentina Park adjacent to the hospital in the next cabinet meeting.
The committee headed by Senator Kalsoom Perveen expressed annoyance over growing complaints regarding the lack of proper care to the patients, rude and indifferent attitude of doctors and nursing staff with the patients and their attendants in PIMS hospital, directing PIMS top management and doctors to ensure exemplary treatment to patients as well as take care of their attendants. The senate body also recommended framing of new rules and regulations to make both the city hospitals, PIMS and Polyclinic corruption-free.
Kalsoom Perveen said that Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad had assured the committee during the last meeting that the possession of land of Argentina Park will be given to Polyclinic hospital within three weeks. "Prime Minister of Pakistan has approved handing over of Argentina Park for expansion of Polyclinic hospital, but the matter has yet to be resolved," she said, adding that the matter is purely relevant to the well-being of public therefore it should be resolved on immediate basis.
Minister of the State for Capital Administration and Development Division Barrister Usman Ibrahim assured the committee that the matter related to handing over of possession of land of Argentina Park would be approved during the next cabinet meeting.
The officials of Polyclinic hospital informed the senate body that earlier hospital was availing services of four different medical stores for purchase of medicine and now they avail the service of only one medical store for the purpose namely Kashmir medical store.
On this, the committee expressed anger and recommended to get services of two more medical stores to facilitate the general public. Vice Chancellor of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences-Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) Professor Javed Akram informed the committee that Jinnah hospital Lahore has established its own pharmacy namely Jinnah Pharmacy, which ensures provision of quality medicines at low price. He said that a plan is under consideration to establish such type of pharmacies in the city hospitals.
About appointment against different vacant posts at Polyclinic hospital the body was informed that summary for appointment against vacant post from grade 16-12 has been sent to Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and it will be advertised in different newspapers within 15 days. The hospital is also making arrangements for appointments against posts from grade 1 to 15, the officials informed the committee.
Senator Rubina Khalid and Hajji Saifullah Bangash said that the condition of PIMS emergency is not only worsening with each passing day, but the attitude of doctors and other staff of the hospital is quite harsh with patient and their attendants.
On this, Vice chancellor SZABMU said that PIMS is receiving meager budget, while a number of patients at PIMS is very high. There is a dire need of construction of another big hospital to ensure quality, easy and better treatment to patients, he said. He said that PIMS is planning to set up pharmacy with the help of philanthropists to provide free of cost medicines to the poor and needy people and it was decided to shortlist companies providing heart stents for heart patients aimed at providing heart stents on their own.
Dr Khaleeq uz Zaman said that PIMS has become mafia and to make it an exemplary hospital there is a dire need to frame new rules. On this, the committee ensured complete support in this regard and directed PIMS management to adopt a comprehensive strategy to control the situation and to provide free of cost medicine and better treatment to the patients.