NAROWAL: The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has appointed a doctor allegedly having a tainted record as the medical superintendent (MS) of the District Headquarters Hospital, Narowal, against rules and regulations, according to sources.

They says the DHQ MS seat requires an officer of BPS-19 or BPS-20 along an MPH diploma and three years administrative experience and Dr Faisal Ishaq, who has been appointed as the DHQ hospital MS, belongs to BPS-18 while he doesn’t have an MPH diploma or three years of experience in administration.

A gynecologist has filed an FIR against Dr Faisal Ishaq with the City Police Station Narowal, leveling serious charges of violating the sanctity of her house and harassing her.

On the other hand, a departmental inquiry is also underway against Dr Faisal Ishaq under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act on the report of the district health authority over an FIR registered for the misuse of authority and misconduct.

Proceedings of the criminal case against Dr Ishaq are also going on in the local court.

The secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department had launched an inquiry into the charges for misconduct and inefficiency against Dr Ishaq under the PEEDA Act 2006 and appointed Dr Muhammad Riaz (BPS-19) APMO, Sargodha, as inquiry officer.

Muhammad Farooq Gurayah, the law officer of the district health authority, says BPS-19 or BPS-20 scale is required for appointment of MS at DHQ Hospital.

He adds that according to the law, the officer against whom an inquiry is being conducted under the PEEDA Act can’t be appointed at any administration post while the department has appointed Dr Ishaq as MS without completing the inquiry.

Dr Khalid Javed, the chief executive officer of district health authority, claims that Dr Ishaq has not done an MPH diploma and he does not have three years of experience in administration.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Ishaq refutes the allegations, saying that improving the system of the DHQ hospital is his top priority.

He explains he has taken practical steps to ensure attendance of the absent doctors and paramedics at the hospital and invited their wrath.

He says show-cause notices were sent to the doctors and paramedics working in private clinics and hospitals during the duty hours and they are now targeting him with false propaganda.

Dr Faisal Ishaq asserts that the appointment as the MS is his right. He claims that though an inquiry is going on against him under the PEEDA Act and an FIR has also been registered with the police station but he has not been found guilty in both cases.

“If the commission of crimes is proved, I will leave on my own,” he declares.

Several phone calls were made and messages were sent by this scribe to Mr Hammad, the spokesperson for the primary and secondary healthcare department, for the department’s version on the story but no response was received.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2022