ISLAMABAD: Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences have accused the Ministry of Health of mishandling their absorption process. In fact, they allege that a recent Supreme Court judgment is not being implemented in its true spirit. The health ministry has rejected the allegation. Specifically, it says all absorptions will follow the law. In addition, it says the apex court’s orders will not be violated.
The dispute centres on 28 doctors. In fact, they were identified in the Supreme Court’s September 22, 2026 judgment. According to a senior doctor, these doctors joined Pims after December 6, 2004. They came through transfers or postings from other health institutions. However, they did not complete the prescribed appointment-by-transfer process.
The ministry had proposed two options for such doctors. For example, they should either be absorbed at the bottom of the existing seniority list. In addition, they could be returned to their parent institutions. That is what the doctor said. Instead, employees allege, the ministry has started the process for selected doctors. This includes a JPMC Karachi radiologist seeking absorption in Pims with effect from May 6, 2008.
Meanwhile, doctors say such retrospective absorption could disturb the seniority of serving Pims doctors. The policy requires five years of government service. It also requires three years in the borrowing institution. In addition, it needs satisfactory confidential reports and no-objection certificates from both institutions.
In contrast, health ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah said that all absorptions would be made according to the rules.
Fire tragedy adds urgency to doctors’ demands
Doctors have urged transparent, non-discriminatory implementation, particularly after therecent Pims fire tragedythat put the hospital’s administration under scrutiny. Feature Pakistan coveredthe official inquiry.
The latest friction comes at a sensitive time for the hospital. It only recently sawthe appointment of a new executive director. Consequently, employees say the uncertainty around service matters is damaging morale. The hospital is Pakistan’s largest public-sector teaching hospital.
In fact, service disputes have surfaced elsewhere too — doctors at Karachi’s JPMCprotested over unpaid salariesearlier this month.
Board of Governors rumours trigger emergency meeting
Separately, Pims employees have raised concern over rumours. The rumours say a board of governors system could be introduced in the hospital. As a result, their representative body, the Federal Health Alliance, has called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.
The alliance said employees would seek clarity on the hospital’s administrative structure and service matters. They would then decide a future course after taking all unions’ views.
The alliance pointed to a turbulent administrative history. A board of governors system was introduced under the Federal Medical Teaching Institutes Act, 2021. However, parliament repealed that legislation in 2023. It restored Pims as an attached department under Schedule III. The alliance added that the board model had also failed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Indeed, it is being discontinued there.
Employees demanded that they be taken into confidence before any change to the hospital’s administrative structure. They also called for clear information about the proposed arrangements.
What the SC judgment changed
The September judgment was expected to settle the terms. These terms cover how doctors posted to Pims from other institutions could be absorbed permanently.
Employees say a selective process would amount to discrimination. Moreover, it could trigger fresh litigation. That is the outcome the ruling was meant to prevent.
For now, the ministry insists it will act strictly within the rules. Meanwhile, doctors say they will watch the Federal Health Alliance’s emergency meeting. They want the next signal on how far the dispute goes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pims doctors’ absorption dispute about?
Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences have a complaint. Moreover, they say the health ministry is not implementing the Supreme Court’s September 22, 2026 judgment in its true spirit. The judgment covers the absorption of 28 doctors. They want a transparent, non-discriminatory process.
What did the Supreme Court judgment say?
The judgment identified 28 doctors. They joined Pims after December 6, 2004. They came through transfers or postings from other health institutions. However, they did not complete the prescribed appointment-by-transfer process.
What is the proposed board of governors system?
A board of governors model was introduced at Pims under the Federal Medical Teaching Institutes Act, 2021. However, the law was repealed by parliament in 2023. The hospital was then restored as an attached department. Employees oppose any return to the model.
