Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has proposed a major change in the way government hospitals in Pakistan hire and manage their employees, arguing that public-sector hospitals should move away from permanent staffing.
His comments came days after a tragic fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where 14 newborn babies reportedly lost their lives. The incident has renewed attention on hospital management, accountability and the quality of healthcare services.
In an interview, Mustafa Kamal suggested that staff working in government-run hospitals should be employed on contracts rather than receiving permanent positions.
He also proposed appointing chief executive officers from the private sector to manage public hospitals, saying that stronger administrative control could improve efficiency and accountability.
According to the health minister, permanent government employees can become too influential within departments, making it difficult for hospital administrations to take action when employees fail to perform their responsibilities.
He further argued that disciplinary action against permanent staff can often lead to prolonged legal disputes, particularly when employees challenge dismissal decisions through litigation.
Kamal believes that giving hospital leadership greater authority over recruitment and termination could allow administrators to respond more quickly to performance issues and operational problems.
Under his proposed model, a private-sector CEO would have significant control over hospital management, including the authority to hire and dismiss employees based on performance and institutional requirements.
The proposal represents a significant departure from the traditional employment structure used across Pakistan’s public healthcare system, where many hospital workers hold permanent government positions.
The health minister described stronger private-sector-style management as a potential solution to longstanding problems within the country’s healthcare system.
The debate comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan’s public hospitals, where concerns about staffing, emergency response, administrative oversight and patient safety remain important issues.
The PIMS fire has added urgency to discussions about whether existing management systems are capable of ensuring safe and effective healthcare delivery.
Supporters of contract-based employment could argue that it would give hospital administrations more flexibility and make performance-based accountability easier to enforce.
At the same time, any major change to employment conditions would require careful consideration of workers’ rights, job security and existing government service regulations.
The proposal to appoint private-sector CEOs also raises questions about how public hospitals would be governed and how transparency would be maintained when senior executives receive greater decision-making powers.
For such a model to work effectively, clear performance standards, independent oversight and transparent hiring procedures would likely be essential.
Mustafa Kamal’s remarks have therefore placed the structure of public hospital employment and management at the center of a wider discussion about healthcare reform in Pakistan.
The government’s next steps will determine whether the proposal becomes part of a formal policy aimed at changing how public hospitals recruit staff, manage employees and improve accountability.
For now, the health minister’s proposal signals a push toward a more performance-oriented management model for government healthcare institutions, with greater authority placed in the hands of hospital leadership.
Topics #city magazine #Contract Employees #Government Hospitals #Health Minister #Healthcare Reform #Hospital Management #Mustafa Kamal #News #Pakistan #Pakistan Health System #Pakistan Healthcare #PIMS #Private Sector Management #Public Hospitals #Trending Pakistan
