KARACHI: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal held an important meeting with Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho in Karachi on Saturday to review the deepening administrative crisis at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where a prolonged power struggle between federal and provincial employees has disrupted institutional functioning.
The meeting, attended by senior members of the federal minister’s team, focused on longstanding disputes involving hospital staff and unresolved administrative matters that have remained a point of contention between the federal and provincial health ministries for years.
These disputes have escalated in recent weeks as different groups within the hospital have attempted to assert authority over key positions, leading to repeated conflicts, refusal to accept postings, and open challenges to official notifications.
Background developments show that JPMC has been caught in an ongoing tug-of-war for influence, where officials aligned with either the federal or provincial setups have clashed over departmental control, seniority claims, and administrative charge. This struggle for power has created confusion across multiple units, hindered service delivery, and increased difficulties for patients and medical personnel.
During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to addressing these issues through cooperation, dialogue and a constructive administrative approach. It was agreed that concerns of hospital employees would be prioritised, while a joint framework would be developed to streamline governance and restore stability within JPMC.
Mustafa Kamal assured Dr. Azra Pechuho that the federal government would deploy all available resources, institutional capacity and its constitutional role to bring stability to the health sector and ensure continuity of public services. He emphasised that the federal government remains fully committed to supporting the Sindh government so that citizens continue to receive quality medical care despite the ongoing power struggle and administrative tensions at JPMC.
