MULTAN: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that the chief minister and parliamentarians from south Punjab looked after the posting of Dr Ashiq Malik (who is facing allegations of corruption) as the Nishtar Hospital medical superintendent (MS).

Talking to the media, she pointed towards Punjab Minister for Energy Dr Akhtar Malik, saying: “Not me, but the chief minister and these people made Dr Malik the MS of Nishtar Hospital and can answer the question better.”

Dr Akhtar Malik said that there was no proof of corruption by Dr Ashiq and lodging of a case of corruption against him did not mean that he was corrupt.

“Show me any document where the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) declared him corrupt. If someone has proof they should provide it to us and we will take action. Former MS Dr Abdul Rahman Qureshi was corrupt and I am a witness of it,” he added.

The ACE had lodged a first information report against Dr Ashiq for his alleged involvement in purchase of medicines worth Rs14.8 million when he was serving as the executive district officer health in Muzaffargarh. The ACE Multan had also recommended in May to the director general to lodge a case against Dr Ashiq for allegedly causing a loss of Rs5.1m to the national exchequer as MS of the Nishtar Hospital.

Earlier, addressing the representatives of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) hailing from south Punjab, Minister Dr Rashid said that the government had devised a policy under which appointments of doctors will be made against their respective areas separately through the public service commission. She claimed that the government was working on a special package for doctors, which would be announced soon. She also said that the Punjab government planned to hire 7,600 medical officers to overcome the shortage of doctors, she claimed.

The minister said that soon the government would introduce a law under which legal action will be taken against the people who clashed with doctors while they were on duty.

PMA Multan President Dr Masoodur Rauf Hiraj said that Nishtar Hospital lacked funds, teaching faculty, doctors and paramedic staff, which should be provided according to the approved bed strength of 1,700.

Dr Rashid visited Children’s, Nishtar and Shahbaz Sharif District Headquarters hospitals and said that health cards would be issued to the people of south Punjab first, adding that 50 million people from Punjab will benefit from them. She also directed Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Munawar Abbas to ensure the availability of medicines at Fatima Jinnah Women Hospital.

She added that departments for mental treatment would be established in each hospital as well as three hospitals for mothers and newborns in the province out of which one will be established in Multan.

The health minister further said that a civil secretariat for south Punjab would be established in Multan and not Bahawalpur.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2018