MTI Act: PIMS employees continue protest for 17th consecutive day

The employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Friday continued their protest against the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance for the straight 17^th day, suspending all the services, except emergency and COVID-19 ward.

According to the details, staffers of the PIMS Hospital are protesting for the 17th day in a row against the MTI Reform Act. A large number of employees gathered in front of the admin block and chanted slogans against the ministry and the government.

The ordinance was promulgated by President Arif Alvi last month under which the hospital would be run through a board of governors.

The protesters are of the view that as a result of the ordinance they would lose job security, pension, and would no longer be entitled to government accommodation, plots of Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF), and a number of other benefits.

The ordinance would save almost Rs6 billion to the government but would create problems for the people as they would have to pay for the treatment. Besides, government servants will not be entitled to free treatment anymore.

What is MTI Ordinance?

According to the ordinance, the Board of Governors (BoG) will deal with all affairs of the PIMS once it becomes MTI.

The members shall be appointed and notified by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on the recommendation of a search and nomination council.

If appointed, the members will hold office for a period of three years and will be eligible for re-appointment.

Autonomy would be given to the hospital by declaring it MTI. The BoG shall have overall superintendence and control over the functions of the hospital.

No serving civil servant or government officer shall become a member of BoG, the chairperson shall be elected by the members through voting from amongst themselves.

In case of his absence, the chairperson may nominate a board member as the acting chairperson or if he has not done so the members present shall elect an acting chairperson for a meeting.

The BoG shall appoint deans, the hospital director, medical director, nursing director, and finance director of the hospital.