PESHAWAR: The government has forced Dr Nekdad Khan, the hospital director of Khyber Teaching Hospital, to resign from his post following allegations of embezzlement and violation of merit in appointments during his tenure, according to sources.

A press release said that his resignation was accepted by Board of Governors in its meeting. The meeting was presided over by BoG chairman Dr Faisal Sultan and attended by members including Prof Shah Jehan, Dr Mohammad Moshin, Jan Ali, Dr Mian Tahir Shah and Dr Nadeem Alam wherein Dr Nekdad cited personal reasons for resignation.

Sources said that he was forced to quit the post, he held since January 3 2017.

KTH has also been without permanent medical director since February

They said that he had resigned a week before on the pressure of BoG due to allegations of illegal appointments and pampering associations of the employees.

Sources said that last month, he promoted a computer operator to the post of assistant director without any interview and the order was later withdrawn with the pledge to hold inquiry into the appointment but he failed to do so.

“Last week, he was asked by the health department to resign immediately due to widespread allegations against him but he was not willing to lose the lucrative post, the monthly package of which is Rs500,000 in addition to car, driver, security guards and other facilities,” they said.

A senior professor at the hospital said that the BoG’s decision was appreciated as the hospital director was not able to carry out his responsibilities in a professional manner.

There were complaints against him since his appointment but no action was taken against him, he said.

Sources said that Dr Nekdad, a civil servant, had taken leave from the health department after his selection as hospital director of KTH.

They said that he would be sent back to the director-general health services for his next posting.

The health department has already prepared a list of more than 70 doctors, who have been working in the UN agencies and other organisations on deputations, to call them back and post them in their areas of domiciles in line with the rationalisation policy.

“The BoG of KTH has been struggling to get a permanent medical director since the resignation of Prof Rohul Muqim in February. Since then, the post is being held as additional charge. Now, permanent hospital director of KTH has also gone,” said sources.

Prof Irshad Ahmad has been entrusted the responsibilities of hospital director on acting basis who is already holding the additional charge of medical director of KTH.

Sources said that BoG should have given the acting charge hospital director to someone else as Prof Irshad, head of the child health department at KTH, was working as medical director of the hospital on temporary basis and it would not be easy for him to have smooth sailing.

KTH spokesman Farhad Khan told Dawn that that most of the faculty members had gone on summer vacation or proceeded to perform Haj due to which the BoG requested Prof Irshad to hold both the positions temporarily.

“The post of medical director has already been advertised and appointment on it will be made in the shortest possible period. Similarly, the position of hospital dire4ctor is being announced soon to recruit a new person,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2019