PESHAWAR, Oct 26: The NWFP government is introducing top- level changes in the management of its three main teaching hospitals in Peshawar to streamline their affairs, a senior official told Dawn.

The official said the department of health was considering making administrative changes in the Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

“The changes are being made after debating the matter long and hard,” the official said. Orders introducing the changes are expected on Monday, the official said.

He said the government has decided to transfer and post Dr Abdus Samad as chief executive of the Lady Reading Hospital, Dr Humayun Zafar as medical superintendent of LRH. He is the medical superintendent of the Police Hospital, Peshawar.

Dr Rahim Jan is being transferred and posted as medical superintendent of Khyber Teaching Hospital.

Dr Chengiz is being transferred and posted as chief executive of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. He will replace Dr Daud.

Dr Arshad Javed, who at present is the chief executive of LRH, is being made the dean of the Postgraduates Medical Institute. He will replace Dr Daud Khan.

The government is also believed to be considering easing Dr Daud out of the Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology (PICO).

The official said that the chief executive KTH, Dr Ziaul Islam was being spared the axe in view of his retirement due soon. Dr Zia, an eye specialist, is also principal of the Khyber Medical College.

These changes come in the wake of reports that the government is considering introducing a new system to administer hospitals to replace the existing one headed by chief executives who have often drawn sharp criticism for drawing hefty pays and privileges without bringing the much-needed reforms in the health delivery system.