KARACHI:Central Leader of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Prof Dr Tipu Sultan on Monday strongly reacted on the raids conducted by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and said such actions has created uncertainty among doctors, nurses and paramedics as well as in general public.
He shared these views during a press conference jointly organized by civil society organizations, trade unions and Pakistan Medical Association. Executive Director, PILER, Karamat Ali, Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation, Naghma Iqtidar an Social Activist , Habibuddin Junaidi of Peoples Labour Bureau, Saeed Baloch, Zehra Khan of Home Based Workers and representatives of Karachi Bar Association were also present on this occasion.
Prof Dr Tipu Sultan said NICVD is the only cardiac institute of South Asia, which provide state-of-the art facilities cardiac care facilities total free of charge. He said people from all over the Pakistan are availing quality cardiac care facilities.
He said health is a basic right and it is responsibility of state to provide this right. However, a large majority of people are deprived of this right and when institutions such as NICVD have tried to provide such services, it is being targeted and maligned and harassed. The action NAB has considered attempt on the fundamental rights of millions of people.
He said unnecessary harassments and raids of NAB have created uncertainty in medical staff working in NICVD and its other facilities. He said NICVD is providing unique services of primary Angiography and Angioplasty and other heart ailments to common people free of cost round the clock. The hospital in the last many years have established itself as one of the best public sector facilities not only in the province but in the country with highly qualified doctors and other staff.
“It has also spread network of 28 facilities across the province. The hospital has earned a very good reputation. Targeting such a health facility is beyond comprehension and deserves strong condemnation” he added.
He informed that NICVD did get funds from the government of Sindh but it is an autonomous body governed by a governing body and fully independent in its functioning. No formal corruption charges have ever been proved against the facility and public in general is witness of the best services provided. It is ironic that the bureau instead of conducting inquiry against real culprits of corruption choose to target a hospital with good reputation. Nobody would buy these charges/ allegations.
Speaking on this occasion, Executive Director, PILER, Karamat Ali, the way NAB raided the facility of a hospital where hundreds of heart patients were under treatment is illogical, illegal, and immoral and in disregard to all basic principles and values. This action resulted in halting the services by the hospital staff in protest and created panic in patients and their attendees. The NAB is liable to be sued for damages by hospital staff, patients, their attendees and public in general.
“We have spoken to the management of NICVD and according to them NAB did not give any prior intimation and the hospital had provided all the record required by the bureau and was fully cooperating. The fictitious NAB inquiry was going on for the last couple of years, whenever the NAB has asked for a record, they were provided in hard and soft copies in a timely manner” he added.
He said it was observed interference of federal institutions in the affairs of the provincial government of Sindh as evident from attempt to occupy islands, IGP case and this latest interference in the hospital. It is on the record that the federal government wants to take the control of the hospital. This interference is un-constitutional and un-acceptable interference and against the spirit of provincial autonomy as provided through the 18th amendment.
He said civil society and trade union are not against the transparency and accountability and would welcome any serious efforts of establishing a credible mechanism in this regard. However, the so called NAB has lost credibility and legitimacy and its action against NICVD is one such example of abuse of powers.
They demanded for an apology from the bureau for raiding NICVD and harassing staff and creating panic among patients, an inquiry against NAB officials who are misusing their powers and violating basic principles of justice, federal government and institutions under it to stop interfering in the affairs of provincial government of Sindh, federal government must clarify its position on whether it wants to take over the control of NICVD and Jinnah hospital, we also want to make it clear that any interference or un justified actions against NICVD would be considered attempt to snatch the right to health from poor working class and we would resist it by all means and finally, if NAB did not refrain from such misadventures, we would resist it through legal means and by public protest.
They expressed solidarity and support of NICVD, its management, staff and patients who receive treatment from this world class free of cost health facility.