Health Minister Questions PIMS Fee Collection
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has taken notice of the practice of charging treatment and testing fees to around 10 percent of patients at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad. During a visit to the hospital, the minister questioned PIMS administration over why some patients were being charged when the government was already covering treatment expenses for the majority of patients. Mustafa Kamal also expressed displeasure with PIMS Executive Director Dr Muhammad Salman and sought details of the revenue being generated through charges collected from the 10 percent of patients.
Minister Questions Why Some Patients Are Paying
According to reports, the health minister questioned the policy by pointing out that treatment for around 90 percent of PIMS patients is provided free of charge. He asked why the remaining 10 percent could not also receive free treatment. Mustafa Kamal said the collection of fees from a portion of patients was inappropriate and asked the hospital administration to provide complete details of the amount being collected through these charges.
Plan to Discuss Free Treatment With Prime Minister
The minister said he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and seek a way to ensure that 100 percent of patients at PIMS receive free treatment. His comments indicate that the government is considering expanding financial support for patients who currently have to pay for certain medical services or tests at the hospital. However, the reports do not indicate that a final decision has already been made to eliminate all charges at PIMS. The minister has first sought financial details from the hospital administration and said he intends to discuss the issue with the prime minister.
PIMS Faces Pressure for Better Public Healthcare
The development comes as PIMS remains one of the country’s major public-sector healthcare institutions, serving patients from Islamabad as well as other parts of Pakistan. The question of treatment costs is particularly important for patients who travel to the federal capital because they cannot afford expensive treatment at private hospitals. If the government ultimately approves free treatment for all PIMS patients, the move could reduce the financial burden on thousands of people who rely on the hospital for specialised medical services.
New Emergency and Trauma Centre Also Discussed
During the visit, the minister also reviewed progress on the hospital’s new emergency and trauma centre. According to a report carried by Daily Aaj, the planned facility has 166 beds and was expected to be completed within 10 days. Existing emergency departments were also expected to continue functioning during the transition. The development of the new facility is part of broader efforts to improve emergency healthcare capacity at PIMS.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on the details requested from PIMS administration regarding the fees collected from the 10 percent of patients. Mustafa Kamal has made clear that he wants the government to examine whether the remaining patients can also be treated without charges. Any final change in the hospital’s fee policy, however, would require a formal government decision. For now, the minister’s intervention has put the issue of free treatment at PIMS back in the spotlight, with the next major step expected to come after discussions with the prime minister.
