PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department modified its notification regarding posting and transfer of senior doctors thrice within 24 hours.

Sources said that reason for quick modification was political affiliation of the families of the transferred doctors.

On July 9, the health department transferred Dr Ghulam Subkhani, the district health officer of (DHO) Swat, and posted him as Peshawar DHO. He was replaced by Dr Aurangzeb Khan, the medical superintendent (MS) of tehsil headquarters hospital Takhtbai, Mardan.

However, a modified notification issued on Wednesday stated that the competent authority was pleased to withdraw the notification of transfer of Ghualm Subkhani and Dr Aurangzeb Khan in the public interest.

Political affiliation of families of transferred doctors cited as main reason for modification of order

A third notification issued later in the day said that the transfer of Dr Aurangzeb Khan was held in abeyance with immediate effect and Dr Ijaz Ahmed, attached to DHO Swat, was authorised to look after the post till further order.

Sources described the transfer of Dr Gul Mohammad, the Peshawar DHO, as politically-motivated. Under the same notification, he was transferred to his native Swabi district as chief medical officer of Bacha Khan Medical Complex Swabi.

The post on which he was transferred is meant for general cadre doctor while Dr Gul Mohammad is from management cadre with vast experience.

Despite being senior most among the management cadre doctors, he has been working under director-general health services, who is junior to him. He is on the top of list of management cadre doctors in the province.

Dr Gul belongs to Swabi where his family is associated with Awami National Party due to which he has suffered a great deal.

“The health official working as Swabi DHO belongs to Mansehra district but is in the good books of the leaders of ruling Pakistani Tehreek-i-Insaf. That’s why he has been retained as Swabi DHO,” said sources. They added that he had been posted in Swabi for the past five years.

They said that Dr Gul Mohammad was instrumental in the campaign against dengue fever as well as in the anti-polio vaccination but his services weren’t recognised by the government. They said that senior doctors were surprised over three notifications within 24 hours.

Dr Aurangzeb Khan, sources said, was mistaken by the government for having affiliation with an opposition party that led to cancellation of the order, posting him as Swat DHO. His colleagues said that he was a professional health officer and had nothing to do with politics.

Same is true for Dr Gul Mohammad, who has proved his mettle as Peshawar DHO during the past two and half years but his family is associated with ANP.

The health secretary told Dawn that there was no political motive behind the postings and transfers of the doctors.

“Under the Swabi DHO, the performance indicators have improved due to which he is staying there. Dr Gul Mohammad has requested for a post with minor responsibility because he is on the verge of retirement,” he said.

He said that the second notification was issued to retain Dr Subkhani in Swat because of his best performance but later he approached them to be transferred to Peshawar to work there for a few months before retirement.

“According to rules, we have to give posting of choice to the employees when they are close to the age of superannuation,” said the health secretary.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2019