All NPC members now entitled to free treatment at PIMS

Islamabad: Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and the National Press Club (NPC) here on Saturday, 2,800 members of the NPC are now entitled to receiving free medical treatment at PIMS.

A ceremony marking the distribution of health cards among NPC members was held at PIMS, with Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb as the chief guest. The health card scheme for journalists has actualized through collective efforts of PIMS, the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division, and NPC.

Saturday’s ceremony also featured a special prayer for martyrs of the Army Public School, Peshawar. Expressing her views, Marriyum said the Pakistani nation stands united against terrorism, and that the future holds the promise of a terror-free Pakistan. She said, the war against terrorism will continue till the country is cleansed of the last terrorist on its soil. She paid tribute to martyrs of APS, Armed Forces Law Enforcement Agencies, civilians and journalists who sacrificed their lives to abolish terrorism.

Marriyum said, the Ministry of Information is working to augment the security of journalists, and that a draft legislation for the purpose, prepared under the supervision of Advocate Babar Sattar, is nearing completion. The minister termed all improvements in the education and health sectors as being the fruits of democracy.

Speaking on the occasion, the administrator of PIMS Dr. Altaf termed PIMS and media as partners that will continue to work together. He said, positive criticism of the media has always paved the way for improvements at PIMS. “Following the signing of today’s MoU, PIMS is as much an entity belonging to the media as it for employees of the hospital,” he remarked. He said, PIMS was already providing health facilities to journalists the distribution of health cards has further legitimized their right.

In the end, the President of NPC Shakeel Anjum thanked the Information Minister for her enduring support to journalists. He also thanked the Punjab government for enabling provision of free medical facilities for journalists at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC). As many as 15 journalists have thus far availed free treatment at RIC. He hoped similar facilities would be extended to journalists in PIMS as well.