PESHAWAR, Jan 17: The NWFP health department has yet to introduce administrative cadre in the health sector, owing to opposition by senior doctors. “A decision to this effect was taken by the health department two years ago under the National Health Policy 2001, which made it obligatory upon the provincial governments to introduce the administrative cadre,”said a source.

However, senior doctors working on administrative posts but lacking relevant qualification are against the administrative cadre because of the fear that they would lose their present posts.

The National Health Policy calls for introduction of the administrative cadre from rural health centres to the tertiary-care hospitals.

The doctors presently working on the administrative posts are said to be unaware of administrative laws and entirely at the mercy of office superintendents, who often misguide them on administrative matters.

“There are 250 doctors in the NWFP who have done Masters in Public Health and whose experience and skill cannot be utilised owing to lack of separate cadre for them,” said sources.

A meeting held two years ago and attended by high-ranking health officials and the health minister decided that a policy should be devised to ensure promotion of doctors working on administrative posts according to their qualifications in health administration.

According to the decision, appointment to the posts in BPS-17 were to be made by permanent transfer from among the cadre of medical officer in BPS-17 having qualification of Masters in Public Health/Health Management (Planning and Policy)/Hospital Administration/Health Information System or equivalent from a recognised university, with three-year service as medical officer.

Similarly, 70 per cent promotions to BPS-18 were to be made on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness, whereas 30 per cent on the basis of initial recruitment on the recommendations of the Public Service Commission from the candidates having passed MBBS and MPH examinations in public health systems with three years’ experience in the relevant field.

Ninety per cent promotions to BPS-19 were to be made on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness and 10 per cent by initial recruitment on the recommendation of the PSC from the candidates working in BPS-18 and having MPhil or PhD degrees.

To BPS-20, promotions were to be made on seniority-cum-fitness from those working in BPS-19.

The government has also identified 180 administrative posts, including 82 in BPS-17, 60 in BPS-18, 34 in BPS-19 and four in BPS-20 for the doctors fulfilling the rules for appointments.

These doctors, sources added, were to be appointed on key posts in districts, directorate of health and as principals and vice- principals of paramedical institutes, nursing schools and health services academies.

Sources said that after the passage of the 17th Amendment, it has become mandatory for the provincial health department to introduce the administrative cadre. Other provinces had either completely or partially implemented it, they added.

A similar programme was proposed by the government in 2002 but its implementation was deferred following resentment shown by the general cadre doctors already working on the administrative posts.

The general cadre doctors moved the court and an order was issued in their favour through which the introduction of the administrative cadre in health department was stayed.