Pakistan to outsource COVID-19 hospital in efficiency drive
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN—The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) in Pakistan announced its plan to outsource the 250-bed Isolation Hospital and Infection Treatment Centre (IHITC) located in Islamabad.
The 70,000-square-foot hospital was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide specialized treatment and diagnostic services.
A six-member committee, headed by a Special Secretary, has been formed to prepare and submit recommendations within two weeks. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) will provide secretariat support to the committee.
The committee’s Terms of Reference (TORs) include reviewing the legal framework for outsourcing IHITC, evaluating its existing infrastructure, and assessing the feasibility of outsourcing the entire hospital or specific services.
Potential partnership with a private medical college
According to sources, the ministry decided in principle to hand over IHITC to a private medical college. The college would use the facility as an affiliated hospital and hostel. This move is aimed at ensuring the optimal utilization of the hospital’s resources and infrastructure.
When IHITC was established, it recruited a wide range of medical professionals on a contract basis, including infectious disease specialists, internists, intensivists, pathologists, radiologists, and various support staff. The hospital is equipped with treatment and diagnostic facilities, including ventilators.
Stakeholder engagement and outsourcing models
The committee will also review and analyze outsourcing models implemented in other regions, such as Punjab, to determine their applicability to IHITC. Engagement with key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and potential outsourcing partners, will be a crucial part of this process.
The committee is tasked with facilitating PIMS’s preparation of bidding documents, Expressions of Interest (EoI), and Requests for Proposals (RFP) to ensure the timely completion of the outsourcing process.
Mixed reactions from ministry officials
A senior health ministry officer, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed optimism about the potential benefits of outsourcing IHITC to the private sector.
He added that people might develop trust in the hospital and consider going there if it is given to the private sector.
However, another ministry official highlighted the need for immediate funding for already constructed facilities like IHITC.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has just announced the Health Tower in Sector H-16, which will take years to complete. The Premier should allocate funding for already constructed buildings so a well-furnished hospital could start functioning within days,” he stated.
The official also noted that many patients currently prefer PIMS and Polyclinic due to a lack of resources at IHITC.
“If proper human resources and budget are provided, people will start going to IHITC, reducing the load on Pims and Polyclinic.”
The Secretary of Health was not available for comment. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations soon, paving the way for the next steps in the outsourcing process.
Last April, the NHS announced its plan to outsource diagnostic services at the PIMS and other public health facilities.
