PIMS still faces administrative issues 10 years after Supreme Court order

Islamabad – Nearly a decade after the Supreme Court ordered the appointment of qualified administrative officers to hospitals in Islamabad, the issue of clinical doctors being appointed to key administrative positions at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has once again come under scrutiny.

A review by Minute Mirror of the Supreme Court’s order dated September 30, 2016 and records of current appointments apparently shows that several administrative responsibilities at PIMS have been assigned to clinical officers whose available records do not mention the required qualifications in administration or hospital management.

In 2016, the Supreme Court had expressed concern over Islamabad’s hospitals being placed under the control of officers who were not qualified or trained to manage administrative affairs.

What did Supreme Court order in 2016?

In H.R.C. No. 14158-G/2016, a bench headed by then Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that hospitals in Islamabad were being temporarily handed over to officers who were neither qualified nor experienced enough to run them.

The court observed that instead of appointing executive directors or administrators, hospitals were being run by professors or specialist doctors who lacked the necessary administrative expertise. It further noted that assigning doctors to administrative duties deprived patients of their medical expertise.

The Supreme Court directed the federal government to appoint qualified Executive Directors or Administrators to all hospitals within the Islamabad Capital Territory within one month through a transparent process in accordance with the service rules.

Situation at PIMS in 2026

According to available documents and sources, clinical doctors are currently holding several important administrative positions at PIMS. According to sources:

• Dr. Naveed, Medical Officer/Assistant Anesthetist — Director OPD
• Dr. Sarjeel, Medical Officer — Director Emergency
• Dr. Zufishan, Medical Officer — Director Planning & Development
• Dr. Rana Fatima, Medical Officer — Director Indoor
• Dr. Saadia Nisar, Medical Officer — Deputy Director MCH
• Dr. Rabia Baloch, Medical Officer — Director Children’s Hospital
• Dr. Nousheela, Gynecologist — Director MCH
• Dr. Nasir, Cardiologist — Director Cardiac Center
• Dr. Aneesa Jaleel, Medical Specialist — Deputy Executive Director
• Dr. Abdul Khaliq, Plastic Surgeon — Director Burn Center

Sources have also alleged that male nurses have been assigned responsibilities in housekeeping, legal and planning departments even though these areas require administrative and legal expertise.

What qualifications are required for Executive Director PIMS?

According to the available service rules, the position of Executive Director PIMS (BS-21) requires specific qualifications and experience. These include at least three years of experience in BS-20 as well as post-qualification experience in public health and hospital administration.

Under the criteria applicable in 2016, candidates were also required to have a postgraduate degree in hospital management along with a medical degree, 20 years of medical experience, and 10 years of experience in a teaching hospital.

The Federal Service Tribunal has also ruled that promotions should only be granted to individuals who fully meet the eligibility requirements prescribed under the service rules.

Position of administrative officers

Some doctors belonging to the administrative cadre argue that the post of Executive Director PIMS is primarily administrative in nature and should be assigned to a qualified officer from the regular administrative cadre.

Dr. Saif-ur-Rehman who has raised objections to the appointment of clinical doctors to administrative positions said that when a clinician is assigned an administrative post, the country loses the services of a good clinician while the person does not necessarily prove to be an effective administrator.

Government acknowledged shortage of eligible officers

According to available information, the Ministry of National Health Services had cited the unavailability of eligible officers for promotion among the existing staff as the reason for the vacant Executive Director positions at PIMS and Polyclinic during 2023–24.

The ministry had also proposed as an interim arrangement appointing officers from the Army Medical Corps on deputation. This situation raises the question of why, over the past 10 years, a proper administrative cadre and an effective system for training qualified officers to manage hospital affairs could not be established.

Questions over patient care and administrative performance

Health experts say that assigning specialist doctors to administrative responsibilities could further affect the capacity of PIMS to provide patient care particularly as the hospital is already facing staff shortages.

The fundamental question is: To what extent is the appointment of clinical doctors to administrative positions consistent with the spirit of the Supreme Court’s 2016 judgment?

In 2016, the Supreme Court had also directed that all hospitals in Islamabad be brought under a single ministry to improve their management and performance. However, this issue has also not been fully resolved with different hospitals still falling under the administrative control of different ministries.

Minute Mirror has contacted the Ministry of National Health Services and the PIMS administration for their positions regarding the current appointments, service rules and implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2016 judgment. The report will be updated once a response is received.