ISLAMABAD: Health Secretary Nadeem Mahbub on Saturday paid a surprise visit to emergency and evening outpatient department (OPD) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and issue show cause notices to the doctors who were absent from duty.

A large number of doctors skip Saturday being lean day so that they could have two holidays along with Sunday.

Secretary Health showed annoyance over the absence of a number of doctors and directed the hospital administration to issue show cause notices to all those who were absent.

Later on, Nadeem Mahbub visited the evening OPD and directed to ensure that people get best possible treatment in all departments.

He also directed the pharmacy department to make the delivery of medicines to patients trouble-free.

This week Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Health Services and Regulations Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed inaugurated the evening shift of the OPD at Pims.

Speaking on the occasion, he had said the evening shift was need of the hour as the morning shift was could cater to a large number of patients coming from far-flung areas of the country.

Dr Ahmed had said the evening OPD was a major step in providing health facilities to the patients.

He had assured full support to the administration of the hospital for upgrading the facilities and bringing positive change to the hospital.

He was also given a briefing by the hospital management about various departments.

He had said the government was committed to bringing positive changes in the health sector to provide best health facilities to the public.

Last month, during his visit to the hospital, he had directed the administration to open the evening OPD.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2024