PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday ordered the restoration of former medical director of the Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, Nowshera, after declaring his removal by the health secretary last year illegal.

A bench consisting of Justice Mussarat Hilali and Justice Mohammad Ayub Khan issued the order by accepting the petition of Dr Tahir Qazi against his removal from that post.

Qazi Jawad Ahsanullah, lawyer for the petitioner, said his client was appointed the medical director of the QHMC, a medical teaching institute, by the relevant board of governors in Mar 2018 for a period of three years.

Declares Dr Tahir’s removal from Nowshera hospital illegal

He added that the government dissolved that BoG in May 2018 before authorising the health secretary to exercise the powers of the board.

The lawyer said on June 2, 2018, the secretary terminated the services of his client, who later got a stay order from the high court against the removal.

He said the court had allowed his client to continue serving on that post.

The counsel said in the meantime a new BoG was constituted, which endorsed the earlier order of the secretary on Dec 22.

He added the board comprised seven members, whereas the decision of termination of services of the petitioner was taken by the secretary alone.

The lawyer said on the basis of the decision of an individual, the petitioner couldn’t be removed from service.

He added that once the court issued a stay order in favour of the petitioner, the BoG couldn’t endorse the earlier decision of the secretary.

FEE HIKE SUSPENDED: A high court bench consisting of Justice Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Qalandar Ali Khan suspended the decision of the Lady Reading Hospital, the largest public sector hospital in the province, to increase the OPD (outpatient department) fee from Rs20 to Rs30.

The bench took notice of the issue while hearing a petition related to services of certain officials of health department.

The bench observed that the media had reported that the LRH had increased the OPD fee to Rs30 and would increase it further to Rs50 in June.

It directed additional advocate general Syed Sikandar Hayat to ask the LRH’s hospital director to show up and explain position on the matter.

When the hospital director appeared, the bench observed that poor people visited the hospital who couldn’t afford fee hike.

It added that the OPD fee was first increased from Rs10 to Rs 20 and it had been further increased to Rs30.

The official said the hospital’s board of governors had taken the decision following which the order was issued.

The bench directed the official to submit response on the matter ordering him to ensure that the hospital doesn’t receive the fee hike until further orders.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2019