PESHAWAR: The Insaf Doctors Forum, an organisation of medical doctors affiliated with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, has demanded the cancellation of the appointment of party MPA Shafiullah’s son as the district health officer in Khyber tribal district over the alleged “violation of merit.”

He also urged the chief minister to constitute a high-level committee to recommend future postings to administrative positions in the health department.

In a letter to the chief minister, IDF Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Dr Nabi Jan Afridi expressed concern about “inappropriate” appointment of the Khyber DHO and demanded the revocation of the notification.

Dr Afridi noted that as a member of the Health Policy Team Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was his prime duty to inform the chief minister that Khyber tribal district had immense potential to upgrade its healthcare system and reduce patient burden on Peshawar’s tertiary care hospitals.

He said that an improved health system in Khyber district could also benefit patients from neighbouring Afghanistan as well.

Demands notification withdrawal, formation of panel for health dept administrative postings

The IDF president, however, said that in the absence of health governance and leadership, the tribal district’s health performance was very poor, leading to the referral of around 90 per cent of the local patients to public and private hospitals in the provincial capital.

“This is happening despite the presence of major health facilities within a radius of 10-15 kilometres,” he said.

Dr Afridi complained about the appointment of Dr Faisal Kamal (BPS-17) as the Khyber DHO (BPS-18), saying a junior officer has been tasked with heading the district health system.

“His [Dr Kamal’s]experience and performance in Bajaur and Kurram tribal districts cannot be justified for his posting as Khyber DHO,” he said.

The IDF chief suspected that PTI MPA Shafiullah from Lower Dir district’s“interference and pressure on the health department”might have influenced his son’s appointment to the key post, so the health department and local community had grievances about it.

“We [IDF] request you [chief minister] for the withdrawal of Dr Faisal Kamal’s notification as the Khyber DHO and appointment of an eligible and suitable candidate to the post on merit who can manage and uplift the district health system in the best public interest,” he said.

Dr Afridi said that in order to prevent such out-of-merit postings, the CM, who was also the president of the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to form a high-level committee for appointments of DHOs, hospital medical superintendents, project directors, and directors in the health department to address the impression of nepotism.

“A dedicated committee will help ensure a merit-based, transparent selection process, free from political interference and violation of merit. These key appointments require a focus on professionalism and qualifications to support a smooth and effective healthcare system in the province,” he said.

The IDF chief president said that by upholding fair standards for candidate selection, the proposed committee would enhance the integrity of our healthcare services and ensure that qualified professionals are placed in these essential roles, directly benefiting the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that he was confident in the chief minister’s support for the proposal and looked forward to the positive impactto be brought about by the proposed committee on the administrative affairs of the health department.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024