PIMS terminates contracts of over 100 nurses

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has terminated the contracts of 109 nurses who were appointed during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf tenure under the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) Act. This decision comes as the hospital faces a severe shortage of funds.

Despite the repeal of the MTI Ordinance during the tenure of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement government, these nurses continued to work. However, on May 1, PIMS management informed them to cease working due to insufficient funds to pay their salaries.

A nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, told Dawn that they had not received their salaries since January 1, 2024. “We were allowed to work even after the repeal of the MTI Act, but now over 100 of us have been stopped from working due to lack of funds,” the nurse said.

On May 1, PIMS Executive Director Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar informed the nurses that their services had been terminated. The nurse added that they visited the health ministry and discovered that no official order had been issued regarding their termination. They are now considering legal action.

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The nurses also claimed that the Establishment Division had begun the process of extending their contracts, but the PIMS management did not permit them to continue working. On May 17, the Establishment Division asked the health ministry whether the initial appointments followed the legal framework and under which rule their contracts had been previously extended. The Division also requested the sanctioned strength of employees.

In response, on May 21, the health ministry requested the PIMS management to provide the information sought by the Establishment Division.

Dr Rana Imran Sikandar explained that the MTI Act’s repeal necessitated the termination of the nurses’ services, although it had been decided to extend their contracts for one year. “In December last year, I asked the ministry if the nurses’ contracts would be extended, but received no reply. I was left with no option but to terminate their services as there were no funds to pay salaries,” he stated.

When questioned about why doctors and technicians appointed under the MTI were still working, Dr. Rana clarified that no technicians were employed. “However, around 18 medical officers and six doctors continued to work as they obtained a stay order from the court. Even they are not being paid because we do not have the funds,” he added.