September 27, 2002	Friday	Rajab 19, 1423

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LAHORE, Sept 26: The board of governors of the Lahore General Hospital has again shortlisted five candidates for the post of principal executive officer (PEO).

It was learnt that out of 12 candidates shortlisted from 38 applicants, eight appeared before the board on Thursday.

The shortlisted candidates have again been asked to appear before the board on Sept 30 and present in 20 minutes their plans to run the institution.

The shortlisted candidates are — Dr Abdul Ahad, professor of surgery at the LGH; Dr Fakhar Imam, professor of medicine at the Punjab Medical College/Allied Hospital, Faisalabad; Dr Nazir Ahmad, associate professor of neuro-surgery at the LGH; Dr Abul Fazal, associate professor of surgery at the LGH; and Dr Umair Rasheed, a specialist cadre radiologist at the LGH. Dr Rasheed has got himself recognized as a teacher for radiology.

The three candidates rejected by the board are — Dr Noman Ahmad Khan, professor of anaesthesia at the Shaikh Zayed Hospital; Dr Javed Majeed Mian, retired professor of neuro-surgery; and Dr Nasim Raza, retired professor of paediatric surgery.

LGH sources told Dawn that Prof Noman Ahmad’s CV was sent to the board of governors from the health minister’s office. He was the first candidate to be interviewed.

It may be mentioned that the board of governors of the LGH had earlier interviewed 17 candidates. Three of them were shortlisted but later rejected. The BoG then again advertised the posts and received applications from 38 candidates.

Soon after receiving the applications, the BoG rejected applications of 26 candidates, who belonged to the general cadre. Twelve teaching cadre doctors were retained for the interviews.

Meanwhile, Dr Haq Nawaz Bharwana has made a representation to the BoG chairman and members about the discrepancies observed regarding the appointment of PEO of the LGH. He is among the 26 general cadre applicants rejected by the board.

Dr Bharwana stated that the Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Ordinance 2002 rules state that the requirement for the post of PEO is administrative/teaching experience. He said that in the PEO selection case for the LGH, the administrative experience and administrative qualification have been ignored altogether.

He said that the 12 shortlisted candidates lack administrative experience and do not qualify for the post of PEO. He termed it a gross injustice with the candidates who have adequate administrative experience.

He said the selection of a teaching cadre doctor, having no administrative experience, will play havoc with the LGH. He stated that management is entirely a different skill which cannot be acquired without getting managerial qualification and experience. In Pakistan, he said, a separate managerial cadre exists who are fully competent for the PEO job.

Dr Bharwana demanded that the BoG should again invite fresh applications for the post of PEO while following the requirements mentioned in the Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Ordinance 2002.