LAHORE: The process has been initiated for appointment of the new vice chancellor of the Nishtar Medical University (NMU), Multan, six months after its former VC Prof Dr Rana Altaf resigned over the ‘humiliation’ he faced at the hands of the caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Mr Altaf was among heads of the medical institutes who faced the ‘wrath’ of Mr Naqvi during his frequent visits to the attached hospitals.

According to a senior official, the government decided to post the VC before Eidul Azha following complaints of poor management of the university as well as its attached hospital.

The search committee would start interviews of 21 candidates next week. The sources said the government might give preference to the retired and experienced medical teachers just like the past.

About the resignation of Dr Altaf, the official said, Mr Naqvi had reprimanded him and Faisalabad Medical University VC Prof Dr Zafar Chaudhry and Ameeruddin Medical College Lahore Principal Prof Al-Fareed Zafar during his ‘surprise visits’ to the attached hospitals over unavailability of free medicines.

He said the VCs had argued with Mr Naqvi that they were answerable for the medical education only and had nothing to do with the patient management of the attached hospitals, which was a domain of the medical superintendents.

Their justification had irked Mr Naqvi who put a ban on them to take the main stage during official meetings, events or seminars as a punishment. At this, NMU VC Rana Altaf tendered his resignation.

Following his resignation, the institute suffered as he had initiated several important schemes, including construction of the 500-bed new Nishtar Hospital-II, the examination department, new lecturer complex and assembly hall and launch of MD/MS programmes. The seat remained vacant and managed by Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Mehnaz Khakwani.

The official source said the shortage of life-saving drugs aggravated at the Nishtar Hospital Multan since the resignation of former VC.

Meanwhile, the new hospital is not partially functional as the acting VC reportedly ordered shifting the urology ward to another part of the hospital.

The ward was established by the overseas Pakistani doctors who warned that they would stop funding if the decision of closing down the urology ward was not reviewed.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024