Health minister opposes ‘permanent’ staff in public sector hospitals

In the wake of a devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) that claimed the lives of 14 newborns, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal proposed a radical solution to the rot in the country's healthcare system. In an interview with Geo News, Kamal argued that there should be no permanent government employees in public sector hospitals, suggesting instead that all staff should be hired on a contract basis with a CEO from the private sector overseeing the operations.

Kamal lamented that permanent employees were "extremely powerful" and often involved in litigation when dismissed. He proposed that the CEO would have full authority over hiring and firing decisions and would report to the ministerial level for annual budget approval. The inquiry report on the Pims fire found a shocking lag of only 120 seconds between the initial spark and the fire engulfing the entire Mother and Child Health Centre.

When questioned about another fire in a Pims nursing hostel months prior, Kamal admitted he only learned of the incident after last week's tragedy, stating that the bulb in the nurse's hostel waiting room had short-circuited and caught fire. He maintained that this incident was not reported to the ministry and was not considered a major event by the media.

The previous executive director (ED) had reportedly formed an internal committee to investigate and provide recommendations, a report submitted to the ED just one day before last week's tragedy. Kamal noted that the ministerial slot held no meaning for him, emphasizing his willingness to take full responsibility for the ministry's role in the tragedy.

Kamal also addressed criticism against him and calls for his resignation, especially from the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP). He insisted that his resignation offer was made to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and that he took responsibility as minister despite any perceived fault. Kamal argued that the issue of administrative units, such as the creation of new provinces, supported his stance.

He believed that if Islamabad were a separate administrative unit with elected officials, the hospital should be under the direct control of an elected mayor.

As the new ED was appointed by the inquiry committee with the recommendation of Kamal, he took charge of Pims with patient safety as his top priority. Dr Muhammad Salman, the new ED, visited various departments, inspected arrangements, and held meetings with department heads to address the challenges ahead. He emphasized the need to implement the inquiry committee's recommendations, ensure patient safety, and strengthen the referral system to improve overall patient management.