All set for privatisation of 90 BHUs, RHCs
Additionally, a decision has been made to transfer 1,000 BHUs across Punjab to the private sector. These include 971 centres that operate 24 hours a day and 11 that operate for six hours. The government will pay Rs893,000 monthly to manage these centres.
In the second phase, starting from July 1, 2025, all permanent employees of BHUs and RHCs will be dismissed from service, while daily wage and contract employees will also be terminated immediately upon transferring to the private sector.
Employees at these BHUs and RHCs in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Attock, and Jehlum have protested against this decision, staging strikes and holding large rallies in protest on Thursday.
The affected BHUs include 17 from Attock, 80 from Bahawalnagar, 48 from Bahawalpur, 21 from Bhakkar, 22 from Chakwal, seven from Chiniot, 22 from Dera Ghazi Khan, 28 from Faisalabad, 25 from Gujranwala, 16 from Gujrat, 8 from Hafizabad, 14 from Jehlum, 17 from Jhang, 20 from Kasur, 59 from Khushab, five from Lahore, 24 from Layyah, 29 from Lodhran, 14 from Mandi Bahauddin, 15 from Mianwali, 53 from Multan, 56 from Muzaffargarh, 16 from Nankana Sahib, 18 from Narowal, 31 from Okara, 17 from Pakpattan, 74 from Rahim Yar Khan, 16 from Rajanpur, 20 from Rawalpindi, 16 from Sahiwal, 35 from Sargodha, 26 from Sheikhupura, 19 from Sialkot, 24 from Toba Tek Singh, and 52 from Vehari.
Health employees have formed action committees and announced plans for a large-scale protest after Eidul Fitr. Union leaders representing health employees have stated that in the first phase, the government will transfer all BHUs to the private sector and provide financial assistance for three months. After that, the financial aid will be abruptly cut off, leaving employees at the mercy of private owners.
This move will result in the termination of 200,000 employees by December 31, 2025. To protest this decision, the union leaders have reached out to the All Pakistan Clerks Association (Punjab) and AGIGA for massive protests after Eid.
The decision to privatise the BHUs and RHCs has sparked widespread concern and opposition across the province. Health workers fear that the privatization of these centres will lead to job insecurity, and the termination of thousands of employees will create a ripple effect on healthcare services, leaving many without stable employment or adequate healthcare.
With union leaders calling for protests after Eidul Fitr, the situation is expected to escalate, as workers demand the reversal of these decisions and the protection of their jobs. The government's move has ignited debates on the long-term impact on public health infrastructure, as many believe this will further weaken the already strained healthcare system, especially in rural areas.
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Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Express Tribune
A messiah for the sick descended in Pakistan
Since the Drug Pricing Policy was announced in February 2015 and had come into effect from July, which provides a method for the annual increase in the prices of drugs according to the Consumer Price Index. PHOTO: FOXNEWS It was Chaand Raat in 1976, the night before the Eid Festival following the fasting month of Ramadan, when Bashir Rustom suffered a very severe asthma attack associated with kidney and heart malfunction. He was from Mauritius and was my classmate in the third year at Dow Medical College, Karachi. Bashir was living in the hostel and was rushed to the emergency room of the Civil Hospital, which was in the same compound. He was immediately admitted in the general ward of Medical Unit – II (section B), which was on call that evening, as there was no ICU in the hospital at that time. The Professor leading Medical Unit-II (section B) had recently moved from the UK and joined the Civil Hospital. He was informed by the duty doctors about Bashir's critical condition to seek guidance for treatment. It was not expected that the Professor would come to the ward on such a special night, which is widely celebrated in Pakistan. But to everyone's amazement, he did. The ward had minimal facilities at the time. The only equipment available were oxygen cylinders and a suction machine; there was nothing to monitor the patient's oxygen levels, pulse, heart rate, etc. Laboratory tests were limited and took a long time to report, as only one hospital laboratory conducted testing for all the thirty wards. The delays were further prolonged due to reduced staffing during the Eid holidays. Upon arrival, the Professor immediately took charge of Bashir's treatment. What the staff of Medical Unit-II witnessed that night and over the following two days and two nights had never been seen before, and I doubt will ever be seen again. Even today, when I narrate this story, people find it hard to believe. The Professor positioned himself next to Bashir's bed, monitoring his condition closely. Throughout the night, he stood or sat beside him as his condition was serious, continuously treating and observing him in an effort to save his life. But Bashir's condition did not improve on Eid day, so the Professor remained in the ward, either by Bashir's bedside or in his room, a truly extraordinary happening. A Professor choosing to stay in the hospital on Eid rather than with his family was unheard of. As Bashir's condition remained unstable, the Professor continued his care through the second night. All other duty staff kept changing according to their working hours but the Professor remained in the ward. The second day of Eid dawned but Bashir's condition was still life-threatening. He was breathless with asthma, electrolytes were disturbed, kidneys were not functioning well and heart was showing mild failure. Even though the Professor was exhausted but he continued his efforts to save Bashir. During the third night he started responding to medications. Finally, on the morning of the third day, Bashir showed significant improvement and came out of the critical state and became clinically stable. Only then did the Professor leave the hospital, after providing detailed instructions for further management. Has anyone heard of a medical specialist who offered such care, even to a close relative? I am confident there is no parallel to this in the medical history of Pakistan. Who was this exceptional individual? He was Dr. Camer Vellani, the Associate Professor of Medical Unit-II at Civil Hospital, Karachi, who had recently migrated from the UK. It was said that he had been placed at Civil Hospital by the headquarters of His Highness Aga Khan to understand the dynamics of healthcare in Pakistan. There was talk that he would later lead medical services at the under-construction Aga Khan Hospital, which proved true. For me, Dr. Vellani became a role model. I started admiring not only his clinical acumen but also his extraordinary courtesy towards patients, staff and the students. His concern for patients was unparalleled. His humility, gentleness, sincerity, and unwavering respect towards all patients was unbelievable. He treated the most underprivileged and the rich alike. Even the dirty, smelly patients were examined by him with similar details without any hesitation and given time as much as he would give to anyone from the elite class. I remember hearing the chowkidars (guards) at the OPD grumbling about the 'mad Professor' who stayed alone in the OPD, seeing patients untill after 5 p.m., long after other staff had disappeared by 1 p.m. Dr. Vellani's dedication went beyond the call of his duty, as I have witnessed him giving bedpans to the patients in the ward when the lower cadre staff were unavailable and the patient had an urgent need for it. Has any medical personnel ever seen such a spectacle? One must realize that all patients in the ward were from low income groups, to whom most of the faculty members looked upon as objects of teaching and rarely ever touched them – how could they ever provide bedpan service to any patient? Once, my brother's friend Aamir Hussain asked me if there is any outstanding doctor in Civil Hospital. His younger brother, in his late 20s, had been suffering from persistent headaches that were unresponsive to treatment. He was seen by a leading medical specialist and a neurosurgeon of Karachi and both of them considered him to be a case of depression headaches, as headaches started six months after his marriage. The family was told that the young patient is probably unhappy with the marriage and has sunk in depression, which is causing these headaches. The patient and family strongly disagreed with their diagnosis but the specialists did not took out time to examine him in detail and maintained their stance. At that time, brain scan facility was not available in Pakistan and the diagnosis relied entirely on thorough physical examination, which was not done by any of the two specialists. I recommended he see Dr. Vellani. After securing an appointment, Aamir Bhai took his brother to Dr. Vellani's home on Tariq Road, where he saw only a few referred patients in the evening. They entered the consulting room of Dr. Vellani at 6.00 pm and came out at 8.30 pm with a diagnosis – a tumour in the pituitary fossa of the brain. The diagnosis was made through a meticulous clinical examination. I was amazed at the details of physical examination done, as I had not observed any of my teachers spending more than a few minutes in examining the patient. Each clinical examination conducted and its finding was recorded in a long note, which exceeded more than twenty pages. This was a serious diagnosis and required immediate surgical intervention. Dr. Vellani gave them a referral letter for the neurosurgeon who had seen the patient earlier. An early appointment with the neurosurgeon was arranged through special efforts. Unfortunately, the neurosurgeon dismissed the diagnosis of Dr. Vellani, tossed the long note into the trash in front of the family without reading it, and called Dr. Vellani a "crazy doctor" who over estimates his clinical skills. The neurosurgeon told the family that the patient does not have any brain tumour as he had no classical symptoms and signs associated with the brain tumour and reaffirmed his belief that it was simply depression that is causing headaches and the patient should be treated by a psychiatrist. Sadly, the patient's condition deteriorated over the next six months. The family tried spiritual, homeopathic and herbal treatments also, but nothing worked. As worsening continued, he developed most of the signs and symptoms of the brain tumour. The patient was again taken to a medical specialist who also referred him back to the same neurosurgeon, as he was considered the best in the city. At that point, the neurosurgeon agreed with the diagnosis of brain tumour and operated, but by then it was too late and the young man could not survive. The family and me often wondered if earlier intervention based on Dr. Vellani's diagnosis might have saved him. In another case, Dr. Vellani diagnosed a very tiny tumour, only a few mm size in the thyroid of a patient, just by palpation and referred the patient for the radioactive Iodine Scan to diagnose suspicious cancer. At that time, the scan was done only at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, where the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department refused to believe that any doctor could ever palpate such a small tumour. But fortunately, to prove his point he agreed to do the scan and the tumour was detected. The patient received timely treatment and recovered well. In a few years, Dr. Vellani left Civil Hospital and began leading the small medical team that led the foundation for the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). I had graduated and was hired to initiate the outpatient services at the Filter Clinic, which was later named as the Community Health Center. One Sunday morning, my mother complained of unusual chest pain on the back, which she was experiencing from several hours. 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He himself set up the area for her care, which had the bed, monitors, oxygen facility, me as the attending doctor and nursing staff. The blood samples were sent to the laboratory for the tests and my mother was given the required medicines and oxygen. Dr. Vellani decided to leave when blood reports arrived and my mother's chest pain settled. The entire process from his arrival to departure took almost three hours. I walked down with him towards the parking area, discussing the prognosis of my mother, her treatment plan and to thank him for this very special favour to me. I was stunned, when I saw his wife and daughters sitting in the car. They were dressed up for an occasion and waiting for him. At that point I learned then that they were en route to a faculty member's son's wedding when Dr. Vellani stopped at the hospital to see my mother. 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He graduated in 1979 from Dow Medical College and has served at the Aga Khan University, USAID/Islamabad and WHO/EMRO. He has been a Consultant for the World Bank, ADB, LSHTM and many other INGOs and NGOs for public health programmes.
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Fire-hit eye ward remains closed
The hospital ward, which was left a charred wreck, had been newly built for coronavirus patients. PHOTO: AFP More than a month has passed since a fire broke out in the Eye Ward of Khanewal District Hospital on June 10, yet the facility remains non-operational, leaving hundreds of patients without access to treatment and surgeries. Despite regular visits by the deputy commissioner, progress appears limited with little practical improvement on the ground. The hospital sources revealed that it would cost only around Rs50,000 to restore the ward. However, due to alleged negligence and inefficiency of the hospital's medical superintendent (MS), the matter remains unresolved. The ward caters to hundreds of patients each day, many of whom now face delays in eye surgeries and check-ups. Four ophthalmic surgeons - Dr Waqar, Dr Atta Rasool, Dr Sabiha and Dr Aamir Tirmizi - have been left without work in the interim. One of the doctors, speaking anonymously, stated that due to the inaction of the hospital and district administration, thousands of low-income patients have been forced to seek expensive treatments in the private sector. There are also allegations of malpractice involving the procurement of eye lenses. According to insider sources, some hospital doctors reportedly have these lenses stocked at private medical stores outside the hospital. Patients are allegedly instructed to buy them at inflated prices, which are then shared between store owners and certain medical staff. When the situation was highlighted, district officials appeared to respond, with increased visits and media coverage. Photographs of the deputy commissioner inspecting the ward have been sent to the media and the Punjab government by the district's information office. However, conflicting reports continue to emerge. When asked about the ward's current status, one doctor claimed it is fully operational, while another said it is ready for reopening and the deputy commissioner is scheduled to inaugurate it soon. Daily, the ward is said to receive over 100 patients, with hundreds of eye surgeries conducted weekly before the fire. Adding to the hospital's woes, a separate incident was reported last week, where the absence of blood pressure monitoring equipment allegedly led to a patient's death. The incident sparked a protest by the deceased's family, further underscoring the urgent need for improved healthcare services in the district.
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Express Tribune
K-P spending plan long on promises
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has presented a Rs363 billion education budget for the upcoming fiscal year, marking an 11 per cent increase from last year. Critics, however, have argued that the budget is high on claims and low on credibility. Despite a barrage of promises, from school renovations to new colleges and expanded health coverage, opposition parties have dismissed the budget as a "paper exercise" detached from the dire on-ground realities of a province grappling with economic mismanagement, institutional decay, and widespread corruption. The government's education plan boasts allocations for classroom repairs in 32,500 schools, provision of teaching materials, and extracurricular activities for over 5.9 million students. It also includes Rs1.59 billion for hiring female teachers in girls' community schools, Rs8.54 billion for free textbooks, and Rs855 million for restoring ten historic schools. Additionally, it promises to enroll half of the province's out-of-school children and address teacher shortages through a Rs1 billion allocation to parent-teacher councils. Higher education spending has been increased to Rs50 billion, while Rs2.77 billion has been set aside to convert public colleges into centers of applied sciences and Rs3.5 billion for five new colleges. The budget for public universities has jumped from Rs3 billion to Rs10 billion, alongside a Rs1.24 billion top-up in the scholarship endowment fund. In the health sector, the government has raised the Sehat Card Plus budget from Rs28 billion to Rs35 billion, and earmarked Rs6 billion for extending health coverage to the merged districts. New projects include neonatal care centers in five districts, satellite cardiology units in Mardan and Bannu, and a nursing college in Chitral. Funds have also been set aside for health facility upgrades in Orakzai and Kurram. However, the opposition has branded the budget a farce, with PPP MPA Ahmed Karim Kundi calling it "laughable" and accusing the government of manipulating figures to create the illusion of a Rs157 billion surplus. "They present a Rs416 billion budget but cannot even spend Rs100 billion effectively. The Sehat Card program, touted as a flagship initiative, disproportionately benefits the rich, with 80 per cent of users coming from wealthier segments of society. Public hospitals are in shambles, no new basic health units have been built, and health indicators are declining," he said. Critics also pointed to a crumbling education sector. Over 500,000 children remain out of school, and while the government announces new projects each year, implementation remains minimal. Universities face a crippling financial crisis, with the government reportedly selling off institutional land to manage expenses. Opposition lawmaker from the Awami National Party Nisar Baz accused the PTI-led provincial government of reducing education and health to mere slogans, while failing to build even a single major hospital or university in the last 15 years. "Security conditions in some districts are so poor that teachers can't even reach their schools," claimed an MPA from the ANP. Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association K-P Chapter President Professor Dr Dilnawaz Khan revealed that they were demanding Rs50 billion fund from the provincial government. "Only Rs10 billion has been announced for universities, which is insufficient. The federal government will allocate Rs65 billion for higher education, even though after the 18th amendment it is the responsibility of the provincial government. Universities in K-P are facing a financial loss of Rs20 billion," said Dr Khan. Leader of the opposition, Dr Ibad Khan was more scathing in his assessment, claiming that the budget reflected a governance model built on corruption. "The only thing this government is serious about is looting public funds. From the Chief Minister to his ministers, corruption runs deep," lambasted Dr Ibad, while accusing the ruling party of betraying public trust by using promises of better education and health to win votes while delivering only stagnation and administrative failure.
