PIMS Cardiac Centre expansion, autonomy approved at cost of Rs7.22bn

A major decision has been taken to expand and grant autonomy to the Cardiac Centre of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with the expansion project approved at an estimated cost of Rs7.22 billion.

Sources at PIMS said the decision was approved during a meeting of a committee of the PIMS Board, which also decided to seek a legal opinion from the Ministry of Law regarding the proposed autonomy of the Cardiac Centre.

Following autonomy, the Cardiac Centre will function under a Board of Management, which will have the authority to approve all administrative and financial decisions. 

The committee also discussed the possibility of operating the centre under the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) model.

Sources further revealed that amendments to the PIMS Act 2023 may also be considered to facilitate the proposed changes.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Major General (Retd) Dr Azhar Mahmood Kayani and the Special Secretary Health. It was decided that the committee would submit its final recommendations to the Prime Minister next week.

The committee chairman assured that granting autonomy would not affect the service structure of existing employees, while emphasizing that free treatment facilities for poor patients would continue.

The expanded cardiac centre will also include pediatric cardiology services and advanced cardiac surgery facilities, aimed at improving specialized healthcare services in the federal capital.

Reporter: Babar Shahzad Turk