ISLAMABAD: Unclear policies to appoint the executive director (ED) and the practice to give look-after charge of the seat to junior doctors have always triggered controversies and led to litigations at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

The largest hospital of the federal capital, Pims hardly gets permanent head as over the years the health ministry has appointed junior officers on a temporary basis so that [apparently] they toe the line and lack courage to refuse even illegal orders.

The last permanent ED of Pims was Dr Amjad Mahmood who retired during the tenure of the PTI government. Since then, half a dozen EDs have been named on the look-after charge, but not a single regular ED appointed. Similar practice was adopted while appointing heads of Pims’ ancillary hospitals such as Children Hospital, MCH and Burn Centre. However, the PTI introduced a governing board in the hospital through legislation but the law was revoked when PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel was the health minister during the PDM government.

Over the years, whether it was Dr Mahmood or head of other departments, a number of cases were fi led in courts and letters were written to the health ministry and even to the PM Office.

Since retirement of Dr Amjad Mahmood when PTI was in power half a dozen junior officers have been appointed as hospital head on temporary basis

When contacted, Pims Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikandar, who is also having a look-after charge, said although there were recruitment rules, most of the time junior officers were appointed on look-after charge which provoked senior employees to approach courts and higher authorities, including the PM.

Even during the recent meeting of the Central Selection Board (CSB), held in March, there were four candidates for promotion. As everyone cannot be promoted, litigation started. “However, I am the most senior officer in the hospital,” he claimed.

It is worth mentioning that even after the recent CSB, two letters have been written to the PM to send back the board’s recommendations.

The first letter was written by Dr Majida Zafar to the prime minister urging him to remand back the recommendation of the CSB regarding promotion of Professor of Gynaecology Dr Nosheela Amjad.

The second letter was written by the head of Radiology Department Prof Dr Ayesha Isani to consider the promotion cases of BS-20 officers to BS-21.

“Ministry of National Health Services also forwarded the working paper for the promotion to the post of ED Pims (BS-21).

The name of various officers of Pims were forwarded for consideration including [acting ED] Dr Rana Imran Sikandar, Professor of Anaesthesia (BS-20). I was also one of the candidates to be considered for promotion against the said post. The Central Selection Board recommended the name of Dr Sikandar for promotion to the post of ED, Pims while he was not eligible for promotion,” she stated.

“Dr Rana Imran Sikandar completed his MPH degree on 16.06.2023 therefore he does not fulfill two years’ post-qualifi-cation experience in hospital management. But this aspect was not mentioned by M/o National Health nor examined by CP-Section of Establishment Division. His ACRs signed/initiated by irrelevant officer i.e. Dr. Rizwan Taj, Professor of Psychiatry (BS-20) who retired from service and is now working on contract basis.

The ACRs were countersigned by Additional Secretary Ministry of Health who was not directly supervising the ED and Pims Hospital,” Dr Isani said.

She stated that Dr Sikandar was working as ED Pims (look-after charge) since April 2023; therefore, his ACRs of 2023 and 2024 should be signed by the secretary health as the reporting officer and countersigned by the next authority i.e. minister/prime minister. The same was not done in that case, she claimed.

“In view of above, it is submitted that the recommendation of Central Selection Board to the extent of agenda item for the post of Executive Director Pims may not be approved. Furthermore, necessary direction may kindly be issued to Establishment Division to re-examine the case,” Dr Isani maintained.

However, Dr Sikandar said the CSB had recommended his promotion after examining his fi le and approval of the PM was just required for it.

“I think it is an effort to stop my promotion instead of getting a chance to be promoted. My fi le was cleared by the ministry and the Establishment Division and I cannot dictate them. As I was also head of the department and was having look after charge of ED so dean wrote my ACR being head of the department and not as ED. I have ample experience of administration as head of the department,” Dr Sikandar claimed.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2025