January 23, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 19, 1423

KARACHI, Jan 22: The health department is in limbo these days.The reason: there’s neither a full-time health secretary nor a health minister, full- or part-time.

As could be expected in such circumstances, confusion and chaos abounds in the health sector. And some scrupulous elements are busy exploiting the chaotic situation to their fullest advantage, according to well-placed sources.

It’s not that Sindh doesn’t have a health secretary. There is a health secretary but the problem is he’s not full-time. The official in question — namely Dr Ameer Ali Barq — is also the principal secretary to the chief minister, a position which requires his undivided attention.

As a consequence the health department, one of the bigger departments in the provincial government, gets neglected. The area of medical education has been affected particularly badly.

The sources told Dawn on Wednesday that it is politics which has held up the nomination of a person to the position of health minister. Some political groups want Imtiaz Sheikh to be nominated to the position.

However, Muttahida Qaumi Movement opposes his nomination on the grounds that someone from among their people should be given the portfolio. Similarly, Muttahida’s nominee is being opposed by its rivals.

According to a source, health files are nowadays moving very slowly, if at all. “Nothing is happening. The reason is that hardly a file moves these days,” he said.

Even routine files had become hostage to the situation, he said. “Only the emergency situations are being taken care of. The rest of the issues and problems are being deferred for the next day.”

The files that are not urgently required were moved only if the political and other groups lent their overwhelming backing to the same, said the source. “As a consequence the files not enjoying the support of political groups get neglected.”

The source said the health sector was likely to see more confusion times in the near future. “As you know many functions of the health department have been taken over by the City Government.

“But you should also know that the moves made by the City Government are going to be opposed by the political interests. The upshot is that we could soon see a total paralysis of the health sector soon.”

Meanwhile, another source told Dawn that very senior officials were busy in milking the chaotic situation to their advantage. The only function still being undertaken religiously, despite the doldrums the health department finds itself in, is procurement.

“And it is this function which is the most lucrative. We know from experience that some officials are making money in this area,” he claimed.