LAHORE: Two senior doctors of the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) are facing major penalties – one removal from service and the other action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act -- on the charges of misconduct and violation of rules.

The major punishment of termination from service has been recommended against Professor of Biochemistry Dr Naqshab Chaudhry and proceeding under the PEEDA Act against KEMU Acting Registrar Dr Murtaza Haider. Prof Naqshab has been held guilty of producing bogus experience certificate to get appointment as professor in BS 21, according to the inquiry report. The KEMU registrar is accused of issuing dubious experience certificates in favour of Dr Naqshab when he (Dr Murtaza) was serving the Services Hospital, Lahore, as additional medical superintendent (AMS).

The action has been proposed against both senior medics by Dr Zafar Yusuf, the MS of Lady Willingdon Hospital, on the basis of the preliminary inquiry which was conducted by a three-member committee. The committee was constituted in response to a complaint of ‘false claim of experience’ by Prof Naqshab while appearing for the post of professor in BS 21 at the KEMU.

The complaint was lodged with the Punjab Public Service Commission chairman, the chief secretary and others by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).

Earlier, a major action of similar nature had been taken against two other senior medical teachers after they were held guilty of committing gross violations. Prof Dr Ghulam Murtaza Cheema was from the Allama Iqbal Medical College while Prof Dr Tabinda Rana was from the KEMU.

The fresh scam surfaced when Prof Naqshab appeared for an interview in the PPSC with bogus experience certificate of working in biochemistry department of the Allama Iqbal Medical College. He also produced dubious experience certificate of the Services Hospital for the same purpose.

The PPSC debarred him from appearing for any post in future for presenting the bogus certificates.

The Selection Board of the KEMU appointed Dr Naqshab as professor in BS 21 in 2015 on the basis of the same certificates.

According to the report, the allegations proved that Dr Murtaza Haider had signed the experience certificate on behalf of the Services Institute of Medical Sciences principal which was against rules and regulations. The inquiry officer also pointed out inability of SIMS Principal Prof Dr Hamid Butt in this particular case.

Expanding scope of investigation, the inquiry officer recommended that “penalty may also be fixed on the KEMU administration as well as the Selection Board.”

“Appointment of the accused as Professor KEMU (BS 21) in June 2015 and withdrawal of orders in August 2015 were both done in haste for which responsibility must be fixed on the administration of the KEMU in general and its Selection Board in particular,” the report states.

The inquiry report is pending action by the secretary health.

Published in Dawn November 12th, 2016