ISLAMABAD, OCT 08 (DNA) – Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) doctors and paramedical staff continue their protest into its seventh day, leading to the postponement of more than 800 operations, as they make demands to separate PIMS from Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University.

Only the emergency and critical health units of the hospital remain open as protestors demand for the hospital to be given autonomy.

“PIMS treats thousands of patients for free. It is not fair that the university administration withholds the right to determine who gets treated and who doesn’t,” said a protestor.

Another protester raised concerns about downsizing at the university and wanted safeguards for the hospital employee’s jobs.

The protesters lament that they have approached the government but the government has not yet responded to their demands. According to sources, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) minister has handed the protesters’ demands to the law minister.