The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notices to the Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan as well as other respondents in a petition filed by paramedical staff, nurses and doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. IHC website/File
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notices to the Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan as well as other respondents in a petition filed by paramedical staff, nurses and doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) against Presidential Ordinance on Medical Teaching Institute (MTI).
Dozens of paramedics, nurses and doctors of Pims are currently on protest against the promulgation of the ordinance which they claim would deprive them of their perks and privileges of being civil servant.
Pims employees protest on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad on Tuesday. White Star
ISLAMABAD: Employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) reached the Constitution Avenue on Tuesday to show solidarity with the federal government employees and protest against the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance.
They held a sit-in in front of the Parliament House for around four hours and claimed that they might be left with no choice but to hold a permanent sit-in similar to that of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf while it was in opposition.
In November 2020, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated MTI Ordinance suggesting that the hospital will be run through Board of Governors (BoG).
As many as 14 people recovered but another 26 contracted Covid-19 as the Rawalpindi district reported 462 active patients on Friday. Photo by Mohammad Asim/File
RAWALPINDI: As many as 14 people recovered but another 26 contracted Covid-19 as the district reported 462 active patients on Friday.
One person passed away at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).
Maimoona Khan, 65, a resident of Naseerabad, Koh-i-Noor Mills, was taken to Pims on Jan 7 where she breathed her last on Friday.
Out of the active patients, 86 are in hospitals and 376 are isolated at home. As many as 466 suspected patients are waiting for their Covid-19 serology results.
Out of the new patients, two are from Rawalpindi Cantonment while seven are from the city areas whereas four are from Islamabad and Chakwal.
Pakistan is expecting to complete the clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine in the current week. AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: As over 17,000 out of 18,000 volunteers have been vaccinated, Pakistan is expecting to complete the clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine in the current week.
While critics said the country should have pre-booked the vaccine, some experts are of the opinion that by the end of the first quarter of the year, tens of options will be available for the procurement of vaccine.
In August last year, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) gave a nod to hold the clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccine prepared by the Chinese CanSino company in the country. The trial started in September. In December, it was decided to increase the sample size from 10,000 to 18,000.
Doctors and paramedical staff raise slogans during their protest at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Online/File
ISLAMABAD: Employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) continued their protest on Friday against the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Ordinance, which states that the hospital will be run by a board of governors (BoG).
Protesters said they will continue struggling until the ordinance is withdrawn.
Spokesperson of Grad Health Alliance Dr Hyder Abbasi said front line health workers are on the roads of Islamabad against MTI, which should be a matter of concern for policy makers.
He said the government should immediately address the concerns of health care workers on a priority basis, adding, they stand united under the leadership of Dr Asfandyar Khan.