Irregularities in National HIV Aids program

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: With rampant irregularities in purchase of medicines besides promotions and postings to blue eyed officers and employees on the basis of political considerations plaguing the Health Department, the higher authorities and the Concerned Minister continues to turn blind eye towards what is leading to total chaos and complete paralysis of the functioning of Health and national program for HIV Aids.

According to a document available to The Spokesman, Joint Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination Syed Javid Khan is still controlling the affairs of HIV National Progamme despite its transfer to the another ministry i.e. National Regulations & Services.

Syed Javid Khan, who is illegally holding the control of National HIV Aids program, is doing it on the behest of Secretary National Regulations & Services Imtiaz Inayat Elahi.

Sources said adding that even though director general health of the National Regulations & Services has admitted that an officer from another department is holding a key position but no action so far has been taken against him.

"The person who has been officiating as program manager is Syed Javid Khan is joint secretary in inter provincial government and is also holding the position of program manager in National program for HIV Aids who is bypassing all laws he has attained the post instead of many senior there," sources said, adding that his posting as program manager was also questionable.

Surprisingly, with all these brazen irregularities and in knowledge of the authorities too, the concerned Minister Saira Afzal Tarar is either turning blind eye deliberately or acting like a mute spectator when things have paralyzed the functioning of the department.

It is pertinent to mention here that several high-profiled in National HIV Aids control program department have committed financial, recruitment and accounting irregularities in the past.

Document available to The Spokesman also highlighted recruitment irregularities, unfair payment practices and circumvention of internal controls in the same department.

MBBS/BDS studies programmes altered

• Thursday, 27 June 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has amended the MBBS/BDS professional studies programmes comprising five professionals while superseding the earlier MBBS programme schedule comprising four professionals.
According to the new methodology, decided by the Executive Committee/ Council, the 1st Professional of two years duration is divided into two professionals. The Executive Committee/Council also decided that “Any student who fails to clear the 1st Professional in four chances availed or unavailed and has been expelled on that account, shall not be eligible to continue their medical/dental studies of MBBS or BDS and shall not be eligible for fresh admission as a fresh candidate in either MBBS or BDS. Any student who fails to clear the 2nd Professional in four chances availed or unavailed and has been expelled on that account, shall not be eligible for continuation of medical studies of the MBBS and shall not be eligible for fresh admission as a fresh candidate in either MBBS or BDS. Moreover, for full registration the medical practitioner shall have the following two modules including “Modules of Medicine and Allied” (six months) and “Modules of Surgery and Allied” (six months), while each module has to be completed separately in the same hospital recognized by the PM&DC.
It is pertinent to mention here that the break-up of the columns of the house job modules can be deleted and be replaced by the above mentioned distribution. The Council also decided that medical and dental colleges in the first two years shall allow only 10 percent of allocated seats per year in lieu of dropout students/ vacant seats.

PHC stops NIMS from functioning

• Wednesday, 19 June

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The Peshawar High Court has stopped NIMS [National Institute of Management Sciences] from functioning while endorsing the decision of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council [PM&DC] while saying that all the students of the NIMS shall be adjusted in the private sector Medical Colleges under the supervision of PM&DC within 15 days in-lines with all the legal requirements.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Medical and Dental Council had refused the recognition of the college in 2008 as it did not comply with inspection criteria of the Council due to major deficiencies in its faculty and infrastructure. However, overruling the criteria and subsequent denial of NOC from PM&DC, the college had admitted/enrolled about 390 students and kept functioning without the approval of the Council.
In a writ petition, submitted by the students of the college, the Honorable Peshawar High Court has also ordered that “students of the final year, who were permitted by this Court to appear in the final year examination, are also to be adjusted in private sector Medical Colleges in final years, after verification of the documents by the PM&DC and they shall have to reappear in Final year from that institution,” it added.
The decision says that a committee shall be constituted consisting members all private institution of the Province along with Council representative and Vice Chancellor of the Khyber Medical University, Peshawar as its Chairman for the adjustment of the students and the college will liable reimburse all the amounts according to the slips/receipts submitted by the students.
In another decision the council has also banned Women Medical College Abbottabad from functioning since it did not maintain the standards of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. 

Law soon to cleanse PMDC of corruption

• Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Photo by Homer Baloch

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Ministry of National Health Regulations Services and Coordination Mrs Saira Afzal Tarar on Wednesday said that the government would move forward for necessary legislation in medical education for the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
“A positive balance in legislation is needed both in the sphere of medical education and health management in PM&DC and fair sharing of power between the officials and legislature (executive committee and council) of the PM&DC,” she said and added that zero tolerance would be shown over corruption and mismanagement that has surpassed Pakistan Medical and Dental Council for the past few years.
“This (practice) shrinks the PM&DC’s good reputation of medical education at the global level in particular and at the national level in general.”
Tarar stated this while visiting Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Secretariat along with Secretary NHRSD & C, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi. This was her maiden visit of the Council after the formation of the new government. She expressed her grief over the state of affairs encompassing the once renowned Medical and Dental Council which brought a good name and fortune in the health sector.
She stressed that a fair and transparent system shall be ensured at every cost and all the resources and talent must be used to streamline the medical education in Pakistan. She added that the ongoing enquiries, once completed, shall be implemented in letter and spirit so that black sheep in the noble profession may be exposed and they be made accountable before the law.
Mrs Tarar was given a briefing at the occasion by the Administrator Dr. Raja Amjad Mehmood regarding recent actions on various lapses and to curb the menace of quackery, corruption and fake registrations of doctors and medical colleges.  He added that a new electronic data gathering system is already on hold for working and a more sophisticated database would be launched in line with the needs of the trends of medical education in the international market.

Education and Health gets attention of Federal Government

• Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The government has allocated Rs 1,186,623,000 for the education and trainings division for the ongoing fiscal year of 2013-14. The Higher Education Commission has been allocated Rs. 39,000,000,000, while Rs. 3,817,727,000 has been allocated for the Federal Government educational institutes in cantonments and garrisons. On the other hand, National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division have been allocated Rs. 831,200,000.

Under the Functional classifications, the education and training division has been allocated Rs. 350,000,000 for Transfers; Rs. 635,603,000 for General services, Rs. 103,968,000 for General Economic, Commercial and Labour Affairs, and Rs. 97,052,000 for Education Affairs and Services not elsewhere classified.

Likewise Rs. 5,237,108,000 has been allocated for Development Expenditure of Education and Training Division under which, Rs 2,367,980,000 will be for Transfers, Rs. 352,000,000 for General Services, Rs 135,240,000 for General Economic, Commercial and Labour Affairs, and Rs. 2,381,888,000 for Education Affairs and Services not elsewhere classified.

The amount allocated to the HEC will be under the functional classification of Tertiary Education Affairs and Services.

The amount allocated for Federal government educational institutes in cantonments and garrisons has been further functionally classified as, Rs. 407,605,000 for Pre-Primary and Primary Education Affairs and Services, Rs. 2,394,553,000 for Secondary Education Affairs and Services, Rs. 797,236,000 for Tertiary Education Affairs and Services, and Rs. 218,333,000 for the Administration.

The Ministry of Capital administration and development has been allocated Rs. 1,608,122,000 for Pre. & Primary education affairs and services, Rs. 1,953,117,000 for Secondary Education Affairs and Services, 2,698,757,000 for Tertiary Education Affairs and Services, Rs. 103,300,000 for Education Services Not definable by level, Rs. 7,225,000 for Subsidiary Services to education, and Rs. 8,995,000 for Education Affairs and Services not Elsewhere Classified. Likewise the development expenditure as per the functional classification is, Rs 1,158,580,000 for Hospital Services, Rs. 131,790,000 for Public Health Services, Rs. 22,374,000 for Tertiary Educational Affairs and Services.

The amount allocated to the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division is further functionally classified as, Rs 189,330,000 for Hospital Services, Rs 216,532,000 for Public Health Services, and Rs. 208,560,000 Health Administration. Likewise Rs 25,739,199,000 are allocated for the development expenditure of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division. The allocated amount is further functionally classified as Rs 3,054,916,000 for Public Health Services, Rs. 124,000,000 for Research and Development Health, and Rs 22,560,283,000 for Health Administration. While the ministry of Capital Administration and Development has also been allotted Rs. 5,684,237,000 for Hospital Services.

Federal government has allocated Rs 5.237 billion in annual development budget Public Section development program (PSDP) 2013-14 for 09 ongoing schemes  in education and training division, however no new projects in education sector has been introduced in annual development budget. While the Capital Administration and Development Division has been allocated Rs. 1505.688 millions in this regard. The Higher Education Commission has been allocated 18490.000 million for its 120 ongoing and 32 new schemes, while the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division has been allocated 25739.199 million.

Topsy turvy postings

Topsy turvy postings taking place at PIMS

• Monday, 27 May 2013

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: apparently, it has became a fashion in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) that employees appointed at lower ranks are enjoying the higher posts due to the favoritism of the hospital authorities. More than 150 officials in the hospital were appointed on lower ranks but are now transferred to the posts above the required qualifications, The Spokesman has learned.

A reliable source within the hospital disclosed that there are many cases in which the employees appointed as ward boy are later requested to be transferred to their desired technical section, however neither the have the required qualification nor the experience for the post according to the hospital rules.

By quoting an example, he further stated that recently an employee named Sheeraz Khan, who was basically appointed as a ward boy, was transferred to the Liver Operation Theater as a technician on his own request. Later he again requested to be transferred to Children Operation Theater (OT) for the same post, where the head nurse under his influence also recommended his transfer by stating that the OT required technical staff. The source further said that Sheeraz had basically done a short course of OT technician on the basis of which he requested for the post, but actually the post requires at least 4 to 5 years of experience.

While another reliable source disclosed that an employee named Atif, previously working as Operation Theater Technician has also been transferred as anesthesia technician, which required more experience, qualification and proficiency as compared to the OT Technician but the administration of the institute has closed their eyes over the issue.

However Dr. Iqbal Memon, the administrator of PIMS did not respond the call when he was tried to contact to get his version.

PIMS's Dilemma:

PIMS staff makes things worse for patients

• Thursday, 09 May 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The posting of inexperienced staff in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has created a lot of hardships for the common citizens, as a number of cases have been mishandled in the department due to the lethargic attitude of staff concerned. 

The largest hospital in the capital territory where patients not only from the city but from far flung areas like Mianwali, Abbotabad and Gilgit are also treated is losing its reputation over the patients day by day.
The patients are not satisfied with the treatment as well as the behavior of medical staff specially the staff posted at casualty department, which is the core department of the hospital to deal with the emergency cases.
The staff posted at the casualty section is less experienced then the section’s requirements while the senior most and qualified doctors hesitate to perform their duties at this section just to avoid the crowd of patients with emergency cases, “The Spokesman” has learnt.
“Last week, a lady aged 45, who was having a mass growth in her abdomen and was crying with pain, was brought to the PIMS casualty to diagnose her disease. The doctor on duty instead of checking her properly just took a glance over her swollen abdomen and referred her to the gastro section”, said a relative of the lady. She said the doctors in the gastro section diagnosed that she was not having a gastro, but a surgical case as she needed a surgery to her overgrown mass.  “The doctors in the casualty are even not aware about the basic cases that either to refer a patient to surgical section or to any other concerned”, she said. She stated that after waiting for hours, we were informed that our patient was having a gynae and must be shifted to the gynae section, which not only irked the patient but to us as well.
“The administration must post the competent staff if they really want to ease the patients”, she said.
While a nurse in emergency stated that the PIMS treats a large number of patients specifically in casualty section while the junior doctors often handover the patients to the nurses just to relax themselves. “The doctors here are not capable to deal with the emergency cases due to lack of experience. They should have worked in their departments concerned like surgical and medicine for some years before being posted in casualty”, she added. She further showed her concern that although the hospital has been imposed emergency just to handle any incident during the elections, but the doctors currently working in the casualty are not experienced enough to deal such situation.
A senior doctor admitted that the condition in the casualty section was miserable for the patients as well as the medical staff as it was handed over to the inexperienced staff. “The main reason for the mishandled cases is insufficient number of staff. However the available staff posted in the casualty section is also of least experience which turns the situation into worst,” he revealed.
He said that currently there are four doctors in each section of the casualty but the situation and increasing number of patient demands for at least six doctors in each shift, with relevant experience in each section.
When contacted PIMS Administrator Dr Iqbal Memon told “The Spokesman”, “Yes, we are having issues regarding insufficient staff for which we wrote many times to the ministry concerned but all in vain. The available staff posted in each section is qualified and capable as their recruitment is purely made on merit and according to the rules”.  He said that the medical staff had also been placed in their sections according to their qualifications.

PIMS boss Dr Riaz disqualified

• Monday, 22 April 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ Executive Director Dr Riaz Warraich has  finally dismissed from his post by an Islamabad High Court decision in which the court declared his appointment as null and void here on Monday.
According to the details, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui while hearing the petition filed by PIMS’ Joint Executive Director Dr Altaf Hussain against the appointment of Dr Riaz Warraich as PIMS’ Executive Director, declared his appointment illegal.
The court also ordered the establishment division to appoint a new ED for the institute as soon as possible. Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, the council for Dr Altaf Hussain during the hearing told the bench that the post for executive director requires a medical specialist, orthopedic surgeon or a cardiologist but Dr Warraich was not qualifying for it as he was having a degree of dentist.
On the other hand, sources confirmed that Dr Warraich was appointed in October 2012, was a blue eyed of CAAD’s Former Minister Mr Nazar Gondal and involved in many irregularities and illegal recruitments during his tenure by using his political influence. On March 26, Justice Siddiqui had restrained Dr Warraich from his post after a petition filed by Dr Hussain.
An officer working in PIMS administration said that Dr Warraich also desired to become the first vice chancellor of the newly announced Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University by using his influence.
He said that Dr Warraich made many irregularities in the rules to become the first vice chancellor of SZAB University. But in current situation, he is not only removed from his post but also disqualified for becoming the vice chancellor of the university. 

Polyclinic lacks sufficient medicine

• Saturday, 13 April 2013

 Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government Services Hospital, also known as the Polyclinic, is considered to be facilitating the poor patients of the capital and its surrounding areas but the current situation there is that the hospital lacks sufficient medicine for its patients.
On the other hand, the staff, instead of facilitating the patients, is not cooperating with the patients and their attendants, The Spokesman has learnt. Abdullah, a patient admitted in the Polyclinic for a minor surgery, told The Spokesman that the doctor advised him some medicines after his surgery, which were supposed to be available in the dispensary but the dispenser provided only half of them.
“The dispenser told my brother that the remaining four medicines were not available and could be purchased from any private medicine shop outside the hospital,” he said. Haji Shafiq, whose daughter is admitted in the hospital for a maternity case, said that it has become a trend in the hospital that the staff sends back the patients without giving them proper medicine.
“It has been three to four times since last week when the staff gave me only few of the medicines mentioned in the prescription as they said the dispensary is suffering from shorts of medicines and I had to buy the remaining medicines from a private medicine shop which turned expensive for me,” he said.
A doctor on duty while requesting anonymity said that the situation occur due to lack of planning of the hospital management as neither the concerned staff inform the authorities about the shortage of the medicine nor the administration pay concern over the issue. He said the situation also irks the doctors as well when the patients turn to them with complaints.
“The patients turn back to us by complaining that the medicines we advised them in the prescription are not available in the hospital so we should advise them any other alternate medicine, but most of the time the alternative medicine is also not available which off course disturb the patients as well as the us,” the doctor said.
Karimuddin told The Spokesman that he visited the hospital dispensary to get some medicine for his younger brother with a prescription of the concerned doctors, but the dispensary staff refused to give him medicine by telling that he must have a signature of the same doctor on the prescription who advised him the medicine.
“The doctor advised the medicine on the official latter pad of the hospital where name of the doctor was also mentioned but still the staff told me that I must have a signature of the doctor on the prescription otherwise they will not provide me the medicine,” he said. When he turned back to the doctor to get his signature, he was out of his office, so he bought the medicine from a private store in Blue Area, he said.
Ali Ahmad, a lecturer in a private college, said that he also suffered the same situation and followed a notice displayed in front of the dispensary mentioning the doctors to be contacted in either emergency or for complaints, but all in vain as he could not meet the doctors. “It was mentioned in the notice that the patients having complaints should contact the in-charge of the dispensary in room-31, but when I approached there, his room was locked,” he said.
Disagreeing with the situation, Dr Shairf Astori, spokesperson of the hospital, said that shortage of the medicine was not only for Islamabad but in all over the country, however Polyclinic was the only hospital which provides 80% medicines to its patients as compare to other government hospitals of the capital. Although the hospital have 1200 to 1000 medicines in its formulary and all are available currently. “Only those medicines are not available which the doctors advise out of the formulary,” he said.

PMDC plan targets ending quackry, bad advertisements

• Friday, 12 April 2013 

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council has decided a plan to prevent non-doctors from practicing and to avoid more cases of fake medical registrations in future. The NADRA, PEMRA and APNS will assist PMDC in this regard.
Taking another bold decision, the PMDC has also decided to ask all medical colleges to allocate 50 percent beds for free for poor patients, a PMDC official told The Spokesman on Friday.
The official further revealed that the council has decided to direct Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and All Pakistan Newspapers Society “to avoid and stop publishing advertisements by quacks and non-doctors”.
“The quacks and non-doctors are, by using their fake registration or authorities, looting the public openly by publishing advertisements in different newspapers. The council has decided to direct the PEMRA and APNS to stop publishing advertisements by elements,” the official further revealed.
He said that PMDC is also looking forward to planning a complete database of current medical staff and faculty registered with the council, with the collaboration of NADRA. The officer said that after maintaining a database, such incidents like the recent fake medical registration scam will not occur in future.
On the other hand, PMDC Administrator Dr. Raja Amjad Mahmood and its advisor Lt. Gen (retd) Rehan Burney, during a meeting with Federal Minister of National Regulatory Services Shahzada Jamal Nasir, have decided to formulate and assure all medical colleges to allocate 50 percent beds for free for poor patients. The free treatment includes consultation as well.
The minister during the meeting has directed the PMDC officials to also establish a hotline network with all the private and public medical colleges to help-facilitate the patient complaints on war footings.

When ‘doctors’ become like tainted politicians

• Tuesday, 09 April 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The humiliation of being labelled a fraud is not merely being experienced by the politicians. Even medical practitioners, associated with years of endless study, are facing the stigma of being exposed as charlatans after hundreds of fake doctors are facing the wrath of the authorities.
The dilemma of the former Pakistan Medical and Dental Council registrar, who allegedly issued hundreds of fake medical registrations, may have increased as his biggest supporter and the president of PMDC has finally resigned from his post. On the other hand, fake doctors may suffer on the fake registration issue as the caretaker minister for National Regulatory Services has directed the PMDC on Tuesday to lodge FIRs against all 48 doctors whose registrations were found fake during the inquiry.
PMDC president Prof Dr Syed Sibtul Hasnain finally resigned from his post on Saturday. In his resignation letter No 452-13/president/PM&DC, a copy of which is available with The Spokesman, Dr Hasnain stated that he resigned from his post of the president/member of the executive committee due to his ‘deteriorating health condition.’ A PMDC official, requesting anonymity, revealed that the reason behind the resignation of the former president was not actually his health condition, but the pressure over him regarding his support to Dr Ahmad Nadeem Akbar.
Dr Akbar was the former registrar of the council who was allegedly involved in the fake registrations of various medical students. Dr Hasnain was also stopped from working as the president and was directed to act only as a member of the Executive Committee of the council by a presidential ordinance number II of 2013 on the fake registration scandal. Dr Hasnain, though, refused to resign from his post at that time, the official added.
“Dr Ahmad Nadim Akhtar was a blue-eyed boy of Dr Syed Sibtul Hasnain and issued a large number of fake registrations to medical students to gain their support for the elections of PMDC executive committee, under the supervision of Dr Hasnain. Dr Akbar had also refused to resign from his post when he was suspended by stating that only the president of the council can suspend him from his post. But the president instead of removing him from his post by using his authority, kept a silence over the issue”, said the official.
He further said that now the situation will get worse for the former registrar as his main supporter in the conflict has himself resigned from his post. On the other hand, a team of PMDC headed by Dr Raja Amjad Mahmood, the administrator, briefed Sahibzada Jamal Nazir, the caretaker minister for National Regulatory Services, and Health Secretary Imtiaz Inayat Illahi about the affairs of the council on Tuesday. The minister expressed his concern over the matter and directed PMDC to register FIRs and initial legal proceedings against the 48 non-doctors whose medical registration was found bogus by the council.
Over the issue of 19 substandard medical institutes, the minister directed the inquiry commission to render its report on immediate basis. He also said that the ministry and the inquiry commission may also close down 19 substandard institutes by using their powers. Sahibzada Jamal Nazir also asked the PMDC officials to provide assistance to the students already enrolled in the substandard institutes so as their academic year is not wasted in the cover of law.
Dr Akbar had allegedly issued hundreds of fake registrations to the medical students as well as the colleges by misusing his authority, all in a single day. After their registration, these supporters can vote for him in their elections to elect as a member of its committee. The PMDC authorities by taking notice of the irregularities lodged two FIRs against their former registrar. Dr Akbar was granted bail by the court on the three FIRs registered against him in Islamabad but on April 3, 2013, special accountability court rejected his bails by stating that he was found involved in the irregularities.

PIMS bathroom construction piques in-patients’ peace

• Friday, 22 March 2013

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: In what seems like negligence of the administration of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences towards the care of the in-patients, the construction process in a medical ward is creating a miserable situation regarding cleanliness.
In Surgical Ward No 6, having the space for 20 beds, the construction process of a staff bathroom is causing troubles as the construction material is reaching in different wards of the surgical section.
Abdul Jabbar, visiting his sister admitted to Surgical Ward No 6 told The Spokesman, “I never witnessed such a bad situation of sanitation before, not even in the hospitals of rural areas for which PIMS is portrayed as a model hospital.” Another patient admitted to the ward said that the poor sanitation situation is causing difficulty in breathing.
A doctor in the wards, requesting anonymity, said that the sanitation situation is not only irking the patients but the doctors as well, as they have to move from ward to ward by passing through the same corridor where the construction material is spread all over. He said the administration has been reported about the problem but the place has not been cleaned yet.
A sanitary worker appointed in the ward said that after every hour he cleans the sand of the wards shifted due to movement of doctors and staff, but it is not the solution as the administration should adopt a proper way to remove the material ultimately from the wards.
PIMS spokesperson Dr. Waseem Khwaja, when contacted, said that the matter is in their notice and the hospital administration “cannot neglect the importance of cleanliness in the hospital’s wards”. He said the construction process will be completed in couple of days after which the material will be removed completely.

Pollen allergy:

More patients despite decrease in pollens

• Friday, 15 March 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Although the number of pollens in air has been decreased due to the rain, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science still witnessed an increase in the number of patients on Friday. PIMS received 1600 patients allergic to pollens during the last 15 days. However 40 patients has been received during the last day. PIMS spokesperson Dr Waseem Khawaja, while talking to The Spokesman, said that about 60 to 70 patients affected by pollen were visiting PIMS every day. He said that the pollens can cause chest and lungs infections, however those who are allergic with the pollens can avoid more suffering by adopting precautions, which are, covering their nose and faces with a mask.
However avoiding sour foods and gargles with lukewarm water can also be helpful. “The allergy can only be removed completely when the trees and plants causing it are removed, otherwise the situation will go on,” said Dr Waseem. On Friday, the number of pollens in the air was 4426 in Sector H-8, however in the other sectors namely E-8, F-8, G-7 and I-8, there were 1235, 1189, 314 and 15 pollens per cubic meter respectively.
An official in the Pakistan Metrological Department said that various plants has started producing pollens in the capital including Paper Mulberry, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Pines, Grasses, Cannabis and Dandelion specifically. Among which Paper Mulberry has the highest rate of producing pollens.

Jinnah may become Bhutto

• Saturday, 16 February 2013
• 
  

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: Members of All Federal Health Employees Association on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against the expected move of the authorities to rename the Quaid-e-Azam Medical College with the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), to declare Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as an autonomous body and suspension of Syed Manzar Abbas, chairman of the association.
Hundreds of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff marched through the corridors and gathered at the administrative section of the hospital and protested for almost six hours, where they raised slogans against the authorities and opposed the expected decision of the government to make PIMS an autonomous body. They also demanded to resume services of Syed Manzar Abbas who was dismissed a week ago by the PIMS administration.
In the past too, all the employees had opposed the move of the Health Ministry which was ready to make hospitals autonomous but the decision was postponed, Abbas, in charge of the Computer Section of PIMS, told The Spokesman. This year again, they did the same in an unscheduled meeting on January 30, he said. An employee requesting anonymity said that the decision would be a totally political as this may be a step by the government just to adjust their own men in the hospital.
Showing his caution, Abbas said the expected decision would cause confusion like the employees (of the hospital) will not remain under the direct government control as the universities has their own set up, of which, they (employees) would not get facilities that a government employee deserves. Furthermore, appointments of the doctors will not be made under the Federal Public Service Commission by which, the vice chancellor will be authorise to appoint or remove the employees at his own wish, he said.
“If the government really needs a medical university, it should either make it at some other place or just simply upgrade the Quaid e Azam Medical College,” he said. Raja Ilyas, working as security in charge at the Polyclinic and member of joint action committee, told The Spokesman that all three federal hospitals of Islamabad would be under the authority of vice chancellor according to this move. “We will lose our status of employees under the federal government. We are also protesting against the move and in solidarity with Mr Manzar Abbas for his illogical suspension,” he said.
Manzar Abbas, an officer of Grade 19 was suspended a week ago by the authorities for calling on a meeting in the conference room without any approval. An official requesting not to mention his name said that it was necessary to get approval for conducting a meeting in the conference room on day before the meeting. About his suspension, Abbas said that they had to conduct a meeting under joint action committee and they also had approval (to conduct meeting) from the library in charge, the officer authorised to give permission for conferences in conference room.
When contacted, PIMS Executive Director Professor Riaz Ahmad Warraich told The Spokesman that it was clearly mentioned in the bill that the status of the hospital and employees would not be affected by declaration of autonomous body. “Mr Manzar was suspended not by him but CAAD.
He was found violating the rules for entering the auditorium by force and causing it damage, for being involved in unions which is not allowed by the management, and for giving priority to his other activities rather than taking interest in his official matters,” he said.

PIMS admin fails to ensure adequate staff for second shift

• Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The patients coming for treatment at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in the second shift continue to suffer at the hands of administration, which lacks sufficient manpower for their treatment post-afternoon.
A large number of patients can be seen in every section of the hospital, especially outside the x-ray and ultrasound rooms where only two out of four x-ray machines are operational in the evening due to the fewer number of operators.
Haji Mushtaq, aged 65, was also among those waiting for the staff to do his x-ray. He told The Spokesman that “I am waiting here for last two hours but there are many people still waiting who came before me. I am feeling pain in my chest but the staff is working at a painfully slow pace”.
An official working in the x-ray department explained the situation furiously. “At morning times, almost 20 people work in this section but at this time [evening], you can see only two men doing the same job.” He further said that they have requested the administration to provide staff according to the need but to no avail.
Another source told The Spokesman that the admin has allocated fewer staff in the evening shift as compared to the morning because of the misconception that the number of patients is fewer than in the morning. A lady who was waiting along with her daughter told The Spokesman that “The crowd here does not seem to be moving and I don’t know how the staff is treating the patients inside the x-ray room, as they are taking too long to treat just one patient”.
When contacted, PIMS Executive Director Professor Riaz Ahmed Warraich confirmed the shortage of staff in the city's biggest hospital. “We have an issue regarding manpower and we have also published advertisements in newspapers but due to the latest ban on recruitment imposed by the election commission, it was a futile effort. Now again we have requested the election commission to grant us a relaxation in this regard,” Professor Riaz said.

Difficult wait for test reports at PIMS

• Monday, 11 February 2013

Photo by the Author

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: Patients and their attendants have to wait for hours in a queue to get their medical tests report from the General Report Section where only three persons are treating them and it looks like the management or the executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has no concern over the situation.
The largest hospital in the federal capital is relying on only three men to treat a crowd of people who visit the hospital every day to get the test reports of their patients but they are forced to wait for hours in queue to get the reports. Asif Khan, who was standing in a line to collect the report of her younger sister who was admitted in Surgical Ward, said “I am waiting in this line for almost two hours to get report but the queue doesn’t seem to be moving, a person who came an hour earlier than me is still in the row."
Abdul Rauf was also waiting to get the test report of his father, admitted in Nephrology Ward. He said, “I was told to collect the reports of my father yesterday and I waited here for almost three hours for my turn but then I was informed that the section is closing and I may wait for the next shift to come or to get the report tomorrow, and you can see today again I am in the row and the situation seems to be repeating same as yesterday.”
An official from the Laboratory Section requesting anonymity confirmed that only two to three persons are handling the patient reports. “Every day we treat thousands of patients who sometime get furious while waiting in the row and argue with us but the situation is out of our control as we need more staff here to handle the patient reports. We need more staff here to deal with the crowd,” the official stated.
He said various times they have requested the administration to provide them more staff but they always advise us to manage with the same staff. When contacted, PIMS spokesperson Waseem Khawaja told The Spokesman that, “Yes there are long queues of people outside the Reports Reception but it never happen that a patient or person do not get the report.”
“The number of staff may be increased in case a written application is forwarded to the administration regarding the issue, but no one has complained to us about the issue yet. But again it depends upon the administration to either itself take notice of the issue or not,” he said.

Congo virus patient:

Congo virus patient recovering fast at PIMS

• Thursday, 07 February 201

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Rabia, the 26-year-old NADRA employee and only of and Congo virus patient is recovering in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. A resident of TNT Colony, Rabia was admitted in PIMS a few days ago because of fever, initially assumed as dengue fever.
Her medical report was sent to a private lab to check the presence of dengue virus in her blood cells, but later the report was tested at National Institute of Health which revealed that she was suffering from the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever. An attendant told The Spokesman that at first the doctors did not allow them to stay with Rabia because of the risk of contamination. A doctor on duty on Wednesday said that at the time of her admission, the platelets of her blood were nil. The Spokesman also learnt that two days ago some men from NIH also visited the patient’s home to inspect the area to find any clue of her infection.
When contacted, Dr Jamal Zafar, head of Medicine Department in PIMS told The Spokesman that “Normally there are only 10 to 20 percent chances of the recovery and survival of the patient from this fatal disease, but she has survived and is not critical now”. 

Waste management system:

PIMS lacks waste management system

• Monday, 04 February 2013

HOMER BALOCH

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the largest hospital in the federal capital, has no more waste burning incinerator since the waste treatment machines have been dysfunctional for years.
The PIMS management has failed to arrange a proper system to dispose of the waste materials despite the fact that thousands of patients are being treated in the hospital. Instead of having its own waste management system, the hospital is shifting its waste to the neighbourhood city for disposal.
An official, requesting not to be named, has confirmed the improper treatment of the waste by the PIMS administration. “It is true that there is not a single waste burning machine in a working order,” he said, adding that the issue has been raised by the administration with the Ministry of Health before its devolution, but all in vain.
When contacted, an official of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that the waste of the capital’s hospital was not being disposed of properly. “The hospital must have its own waste management system,” he suggested. Waseem Khawaja, a spokesperson for PIMS, said that the waste was being sent to the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi where it was being disposed of properly. He said that the new incinerators would be installed soon but he could not give the timeframe about it.
In 2010, four incinerators were installed when the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved Rs 115 million to save the cost of 50,000 which was being spent to dispose of the 1200 kilograms waste in the Holy Family Hospital. The incinerators, soon after the installation, became dysfunctional due to the negligence and carelessness of the hospital management.
The incinerator of the Holy Family Hospital was built by keeping the needs of Rawalpindi hospitals in view, but the increased daily junk coming from PIMS is out of its capacity and causing an over burden on it. The remaining waste which is not being treated by the Holy Family is being disposed of in open drains, The Spokesman has learnt.

Health sector:

Low-capacity PIMS burns centre turning patients away

• Sunday, 03 February 2013

The Spokesman photo by SALMAN MUSHTAQ

Homer Baloch

ISLAMABAD: The 20-bed Burns Care Center in Pakistan Institute of Medical Scientists has started refusing to accept more patients owing to a severe lack of space. The center can only stretch itself to accommodating up to 25 to 30 patients.
Ever since the center opened in 2007, no effort has been made to increase its capacity. An insider has revealed that the situation is so dire that eight stretchers are placed in a room with a capacity of barely four. “The exceeding number of patients can lead to various infections which, in turn, can worsen the condition of the in-patients,” he feared.
When contacted, BCC head Dr Tariq Iqbal confirmed that they were handling more patients than their strength, but he hoped that the issue could be resolved if the authorities paid attention to it. Many patients coming from the KP and Punjab are unable to be admitted owing to lack of rooms, he added. "Everyone wants to come here as the otherwise costly burn treatment is free of cost here," he added further.
He further suggested that if well facilitated burns centers are made in every well populated city, specifically in Rawalpindi and Peshawar, their burden can subside considerably. It is pertinent to mention here that immediate treatment of a burn victim is crucial to counter the injury and most patients lose that time while travelling to hospitals.
A resident of Attock, Shamim Akhtar, was found helpless outside the burns center as her young son, whose lower half had been burned badly, was refused admission.
"I first went to the local hospital in Attock where they treated my son as much as they could but suggested that I go to Islamabad for proper treatment". Upon arriving here at noon, the burn center dressed the wounds but did not admit my son, saying that they didn't have a single bed available. "We are poor people, the journey cost so much money but even then they did not admit my son. We'll go back now and pray to Allah, as that's all we can do," she lamented.