Whistleblower Doctor Exposes Corruption at PIMS

News Desk

Islamabad: Dr Saif ur Rehman, a former Deputy Director at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), has made explosive allegations of widespread corruption and political interference at the hospital.

The accusations center around the procurement of modular operation theatres, alleged financial irregularities, and political manipulation of key appointments within the hospital administration.

Dr Saif claims that the project for modular operation theatres, which was approved under the PTI government, is riddled with financial discrepancies.

He alleges that two companies—Mediland Pvt. Ltd. and Biotech Pakistan—submitted bids for the project, with Biotech offering a significantly lower bid of Rs 800 million, while Mediland’s bid stood at Rs 148 crore.

Despite Biotech being the lowest bidder, Dr Saif accuses senior hospital officials of manipulating the bidding process to favor Mediland, resulting in a massive loss of Rs 700 million to the national exchequer.

“This manipulation of the bidding process has cost taxpayers millions, and now attempts are being made to sweep the scandal under the rug by involving the office of the Prime Minister in the inauguration of the project,” Dr Saif told Minute Mirror, local news paper in Islamabad.

He contends that the Prime Minister’s involvement in the inauguration is being used to lend a sense of legitimacy to a deeply flawed and controversial project.

Dr Saif further raised concerns about the handling of the stroke unit at PIMS, calling it a “non-existent” project that is being used as a political tool. He warned that expensive medical equipment, including a state-of-the-art 640-slice CT scanner, risks being wasted due to poor management and political interference.

Alongside these allegations, Dr Saif also criticized the process of appointing a new Look After Vice Chancellor at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU). He claims that individuals who do not meet the necessary qualifications are being considered for the position, including Dr Rana Imran Sikander, who is part of the selection panel.

“Merit is being sidelined in favor of political favoritism, and this is detrimental to the proper functioning of medical institutions in the country,” Dr Saif stated. “It’s a troubling trend that undermines the integrity of our healthcare system.”

Dr Saif’s outspoken criticism has come at a personal cost. Once a respected professional within PIMS, his career has been significantly affected by his public stance against corruption. He claims that his efforts to expose wrongdoing have led to professional setbacks and job discrimination.

“I have been victimized for simply trying to do the right thing,” Dr Saif said. “My career has been jeopardized because of my attempts to hold people accountable for their actions.”

As the allegations continue to mount, there is increasing pressure on the federal government and relevant authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the claims made by Dr Saif. The issue of corruption at PIMS and political interference in healthcare appointments has raised serious concerns about the future of Pakistan’s public healthcare system.

Despite repeated attempts to reach him for comment, Acting Executive Director of PIMS, Dr Rana Imran Sikander, was unavailable for inquiry, leaving the allegations unresolved.