BY: ANI Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD— Under the supervision of Ms. Qurat ul Ain Ali, IMUN Ambassador and Chairperson, All Pakistan Media Council Pakistan, an eight member delegation representing the All Pakistan Media Council (APMC) and the Journalist Foundation Pakistan (JFP) visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, to promote constructive engagement between the media and the public healthcare sector.The delegation comprised Ms. Qurat ul Ain Ali, IMUN Ambassador | Chairperson, All Pakistan Media Council Pakistan (AJK/Islamabad); Mr. Yaseen Baloch, Chairman, All Pakistan Media Council Rawalpindi; Mr. Ahmed Khalid, Advocate | Media Head, Human Rights Observer Islamabad; Mr. M. Mumtaz Malik, Media Coordinator, ASSAS News; Mr. Imran Ahmed Kayani, Social Activist (Gilgit Baltistan) | Designatory, Youth Parliament Pakistan; Mr. Sultan Yousafzai, Representative, DAG Media; Mr. Aamir Mehboob, News Reporter, Daily Tameel Islamabad | Journalist Foundation Pakistan; Ms. Huda, Medical Specialist (Volunteer); and Ms. Samra Haroon, Welfare and Development Volunteer (Chitral).
The delegation held a detailed meeting with Dr. Aneza Jalil, Deputy Executive Director (Non Medical) and Spokesperson of PIMS, at her office at 10:30 a.m. The session continued for approximately one hour and ten minutes and was attended by senior officials and representatives from different departments of PIMS.The purpose of the visit was to develop a stronger partnership between responsible media and the healthcare sector so that accurate, evidence based, and constructive information about Pakistan’s leading public healthcare institutions could reach citizens.
During the meeting, the delegation congratulated the PIMS management on the successful launch of Cardiac Phase I, appreciating it as a major achievement that will enhance cardiac healthcare facilities and improve access to specialized treatment for patients across the country. The delegation also acknowledged the introduction of the Patient Facilitation Service, particularly in the Emergency Department, which assists patients and attendants by guiding them towards relevant departments and improving their overall experience.Dr. Aneza Jalil briefed the delegation about PIMS’ administrative structure, ongoing reforms, future development plans, and the challenges involved in managing one of Pakistan’s busiest tertiary care hospitals. The delegation appreciated her professional approach, transparency, and detailed response to all queries, highlighting her commitment towards improving healthcare management and institutional communication.
The delegation recognized PIMS as a national referral hospital serving patients from Islamabad, Punjab, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and other underserved areas. During the briefing, it was highlighted that PIMS has around 4,000 employees, receives nearly 6,000 patients daily in the Outpatient Department (OPD), manages approximately 2,000 patients in the Emergency Department, and performs around 80 to 90 major surgical procedures every day.The discussion also focused on increasing public awareness about healthcare facilities available at PIMS. The delegation observed that many citizens remain unaware of subsidized and free medical services, diagnostic facilities, and treatment options available through government supported programmes. Both sides emphasized the importance of media campaigns regarding preventive healthcare, vaccination, child health, and seasonal diseases.
Dr. Aneza Jalil further briefed the delegation about ongoing development projects, including hospital expansion, increased bed capacity, digital patient management systems, emergency preparedness, and other initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery. The delegation was also informed about institutional measures for workplace safety, harassment prevention mechanisms, and improved security arrangements for patients and staff.During the meeting, the delegation presented a constructive recommendation regarding patients arriving from Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
However, considering the large number of patients visiting PIMS from these regions, the delegation analyze that govt should establishing a dedicated facilitation desk or coordination unit for AJK and GB patients. The proposed mechanism could help improve guidance, streamline administrative procedures, reduce pressure on existing staff, and enhance service delivery without affecting facilities for other patients.The recommendation is presenting as a positive policy suggestion aimed at further strengthening the healthcare system and improving patient facilitation in PIMS Islamabad being a foremost choice of every patient refered from AJK & GB.
Both sides agreed that responsible journalism has an important role in promoting health awareness, countering misinformation, and highlighting positive institutional developments.
The All Pakistan Media Council reaffirmed its commitment to ethical journalism and expressed willingness to collaborate with PIMS through awareness campaigns, expert discussions, and evidence based reporting.The meeting concluded with mutual appreciation and a commitment to continue cooperation between media professionals and public healthcare institutions for the benefit of citizens across Pakistan.
