PM Shehbaz directs health officials to ensure on-ground oversight at PIMS

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the overall performance of the health

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the overall performance of the health sector, with particular emphasis on improving healthcare services, administrative efficiency, patient care, and accountability in federal government hospitals.

During the meeting, several important decisions were taken to strengthen the monitoring and management of public healthcare institutions. The prime minister stressed the need for senior officials to remain closely connected with hospitals and have direct knowledge of the problems being faced by patients, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

As part of the new measures, it was decided that the Federal Minister for Health would spend one full day each week at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The minister will directly monitor medical affairs, patient-related complaints, and the overall delivery of healthcare services at the major federal hospital.

Similarly, the Federal Secretary for Health will also spend one day every week at PIMS to oversee administrative and medical matters. The presence of the two senior officials at the hospital is aimed at ensuring that issues affecting patients and hospital staff are identified and addressed without unnecessary delays.

Officials said the decision represents an effort to bring senior policymakers closer to the ground realities of the country’s public healthcare system. By spending time at the hospital, the minister and secretary will be able to observe service delivery firsthand and engage directly with patients and hospital staff.

According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in federal institutions. He called for greater transparency, stronger administrative control, and a more responsive system capable of dealing with public complaints efficiently.

The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to implement the decisions without delay and ensure regular monitoring of progress. He also stressed that government hospitals should provide patients with timely, effective, and dignified medical care.

The measures are expected to strengthen accountability within federal hospitals and improve coordination between the health ministry and hospital administration. Officials will also be required to keep the government informed about progress and any challenges encountered during implementation.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) is one of Islamabad’s largest public-sector healthcare institutions and caters to thousands of patients every day. People from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and various parts of the country seek treatment at the hospital, placing considerable pressure on its medical and administrative facilities.

The decision to have the Federal Health Minister and Secretary regularly work from PIMS reflects the government’s intention to improve oversight at one of the country’s most important public hospitals.

Further details, including the specific days on which the Federal Health Minister and Secretary will remain present at PIMS, are expected to be announced by the Ministry of National Health Services.

The government hopes that the initiative will lead to faster resolution of public complaints, improved hospital administration, enhanced accountability, and better healthcare facilities for patients.