MIT Ordinance not to privatise govt hospitals: Imran Khan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday assured that the Medical Teachings Institutions (MIT) Ordinance 2019 is part of a public sector hospital reform plan, and it will not privatize government hospitals.In a Twitter post, the Prime Minister stressed that the ordinance would enable the ‘improved and modern’ management of public sector hospitals in the Punjab province.

“The MTI Act/Ordinance is to enable improved and modern management of public sector hospitals. This is NOT privatisation but part of our public sector hospitals’ reform plan. The hospitals will remain government hospitals. Better managed hospitals will mean better facilities for patients,” Imran Khan said.

The MTI Act/Ordinance is to enable improved & modern management of public sector hospitals. This is NOT privatization but part of our public sector hospitals’ reform plan.The hospitals will remain Govt hospitals. Better managed hospitals will mean better facilities for patients.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Punjab government had signed into effect the MIT Ordinance 2019, giving rise to fears of privatisation of government hospitals in the province.

According to the MTI Ordinance, the government hospitals shall be run by a fully empowered Board of Governors (BoGs) which must consist of members from the private sector.

Each hospital would have a BoG that “shall have overall superintendence and control over the functions and administration of a medical teaching institution.”

There shall be a management committee for each hospital, consisting of a hospital director, medical director, nursing and finance directors and two members nominated by the BoG, added the ordinance.

“The government shall notify the new Provincial Policy Board to oversee and supervise the functions of the medical teaching institutions. The board shall be the top body in the newly launched MTI Ordinance 2019 followed by the search and nomination committee, BoG and management committee.”

Bed capacity of capital’s hospitals to be doubled“A search and nomination committee shall recommend (a) list of members of the provincial policy board to the Punjab government for appointment of each member for a period of three years. The member of the board shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more term while the policy board shall have a chairperson who shall be elected in the manner as prescribed.”

“The committee shall consist of minister for health (chairman) and additional chief secretary Punjab as vice chairman,” said the ordinance.