Institution-based private practice begins at PIMS from today

80% doctors on board while remaining 20% get three-month
overlap period; private patients to get 30% discount on diagnostic tests

Islamabad

Despite numerous failed attempts made in the past, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has once again chosen to tread on the path of Institution-Based Private Practice (IBPP). Effective today (Thursday), which also happens to be World Health Day, all senior consultants of various specialties — be they professors, associate professors, or assistant professors, along with their respective teams — will be available in the hospital from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Monday through Saturday) to offer outdoor and indoor medical services to private patients in line with the government’s policy to introduce IBPP in the hospital.

The vice chancellor of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Professor Dr. Javed Akram, announced this decision at a press conference here on Wednesday. The hospital’s administrator, Dr. Fazle-Maula, as well as the chairperson of the IBPP Board Dr. Shazia Farooqi, and its director Dr. Mutahir Shah were also present on the occasion.

The measure is being taken with the stated objectives of regulating the private practice of doctors serving in government hospitals, dividing patient load, and maximally utilizing the hospital’s infrastructure as well as its wide range of diagnostic and medical services under one roof.

“Institution-based private practice has successfully been implemented at Shifa International, Aga Khan Hospital, the Institute of Cardiology, and several other hospitals. The step will not only foster greater loyalty on part of doctors towards their institution, but will also ensure the presence of senior consultants in the hospital premises after working hours so that patients can reap maximum benefit,” Dr. Javed Akram stated. “At present their loyalties are divided between PIMS and their private clinics where they practice during evening hours,” he pointed out.

How can you be so confident about the success of the initiative when similar attempts have met with both resistance and failure, Dr. Akram was asked. “The initiative was resisted in the past because it was never implemented. We have arrived at this decision with the consent of a vast majority (80 per cent) of the senior clinical staff; the remaining 20% has currently dissociated itself from the initiative, and we have allowed them to have their way for three months. After the lapse of this three-month overlap period, they will have no choice but to practice at PIMS only. Meantime, we will make up for their absence by inviting retired private doctors of various specialties to practice at PIMS,” Dr. Javed Akram shared.

Responding to another query, Dr. Akram allayed apprehensions regarding challenges related to financial transparency. “There will be no issues of transparency as all appointments will be computer-based and all transactions software-driven. Doctors will be able to charge a fee not exceeding Rs2,000; 80 per cent of this amount will go to the doctor and the remaining 20 per cent to the hospital,” he clarified. The revenue thus generated will bring greater sustainability to the institution in addition to enhancing public trust in government hospitals.

Private patients will get 30% discount on all diagnostic tests including MRI and CT scans, which will be available round the clock, henceforth. They will also be able to avail indoor facilities in the private wards. A separate registration counter for IBPP has been established at the courtesy centre of PIMS.

Dr. Shazia emphasised that IBPP will help minimise patient load in the morning OPD as affording patients will now be able to visit the PIMS OPD in the evening. “Moreover, poor and deserving patients will get the benefit of proper medical care in the morning due to distribution of patient load,” she projected.

On another note, the media was apprised of the construction of a new parking block, and the introduction of 12 golf vans, which will offer pick and drop services to doctors, nurses and staff residing in hostels and the hospital colony. This way, a lot of parking space currently occupied by the vehicles of hospital staff, will be vacated for use by patients and their attendants.

Since this is not the first time that IBPP is being introduced at PIMS, strong apprehensions are being expressed about how far the initiative really will go. It is yet to be seen whether the decision is driven by political considerations, a genuine concern for public good, or the personal interests of a handful.