Minister orders crackdown on unregistered blood banks
Lahore
January 1, 2021
LAHORE:Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid ordered a crackdown on unregistered blood banks in a meeting of the Blood Transfusion Authority (BTA) at the Specialized Healthcare and the Medical Education Department here on Thursday.
The minister reviewed the performance of the BTA and the future strategy of the team. BTA DG Dr Shahnaz shared the progress on decisions of the last meeting. Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said, “Strict action must be initiated against unregistered blood banks. All out measures have to be taken for safe blood transfusion. Steps are being taken for safe storage of blood through use of latest technology. All CEOs and MSs have been directed to visit blood banks in their respective districts and ensure safe blood transfusion.” Registered number of blood banks has increased to 289 from 186.
PIMS protesters to march towards Parliament today
Islamabad
December 31, 2020
Islamabad : The ongoing protest of the Federal Grand Health Alliance (FGHA) turned dramatic on Wednesday when an employee of the Accounts Department of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) incised his wrist veins to protest against the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Ordinance. Meanwhile, the PIMS protesters, who are on a strike for over a month now, will march up to the Parliament House today (Thursday) to pressurize the government to withdraw or revisit the said legislation.
The Chairman of FGHA. Dr. Asfandyar Khan announced intensification of the protest in view of the government’s “insensitivity” to their demand. “We will not surrender; the strike will continue till our demands are met. For now, we are utterly disappointed by the government’s lukewarm response,” he said.
‘Law Department to be consulted for revision of MTI Ordinance’
Islamabad
December 29, 2020
Islamabad:The government has principally agreed to the demands of the Federal Grand Health Alliance (FGHA) and has assured that the Law Department would soon be consulted for necessary amendments to the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Ordinance so that their reservations are duly addressed.
The PM’s Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr. Faisal Sultan extended the assurance during an interaction with the FGHA leadership at his office here on Monday.
“Dr. Faisal conceded that our demands are 100 percent genuine. He said, the government has given a serious thought to all issues raised by the protesting employees of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and it will consult the Law Department to determine how our demands can be incorporated into the Ordinance to our satisfaction,” the Chairman of FGHA Dr. Asfandyar shared after the meeting. Dr. Asfandyar
Consultants, professors join PIMS protest against MTI
Islamabad
December 27, 2020
Islamabad : A large number of consultants and professors working at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) joined the ongoing strike for withdrawal of the Medical Teaching Institutes (MTI) Ordinance on the 28th day of the protest here at PIMS on Saturday. The upper tier of the medial fraternity formed of a five-member action committee that will engage with the government in case it decides to negotiate with the protesters.
Earlier on, faculty members and consultants convened a meeting wherein they expressed strong reservations on implementation of the MTI Ordinance. An action committee was hence formed with Prof. Hashim Raza, Prof. S. H. Waqar, Prof. Imran Sikandar, Prof. Aatif Shami, and Dr. Aneeza Jalil as members. The committee vowed not to accept MTI at any cost.
PIMS protesters invited for talks
Islamabad
December 25, 2020
Islamabad : The Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan has invited the leadership of the Federal Grand Health Alliance (FGHA) to his office on Monday for a dialogue on implementation of the Medical Teaching Institutes (MTI) Ordinance, which is being resisted by employees of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) through protest demonstrations that continued on the 26th day here on Thursday.
As against the above development, a section officer of PIMS has filed an application for registration of an FIR against PIMS protestors for creating a law and order situation in the hospital between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 23, interrupting the disposal of official business including the postponement of the purchase committee of PIMS. “You are requested to identify the culprits and register an FIR against them and take further action as per law,” the application states.