PESHAWAR: The health department has replaced the director of expanded programme on immunisation allegedly for his refusal to accept the ‘unjust’ demands of the director-general health services, according to sources.

They said that Dr Akram Shah, the director of EPI, was replaced with Dr Salim Khan, the director implementation at DG office, who had no experience in the field of vaccination. They said that Dr Akram was not in the good books of DG Health Services Dr Arshad Ahmed Khan, who wanted to remove him.

The DG health has staunchly opposed integration of EPI with Emergency Operations Centre for which notification was issued in last week of June as part of the federal government’s instructions to pool all vaccination resources under a single umbrella and ran the programme effectively.

After issuance of the notification, the EPI slipped away from the control of DG health and came under the control of EOC, sources said.

They said that the DG was unhappy to lose control over EPI and wrote to secretary health last month and cited reasons for opposing the move.

Health secretary says Dr Akram Shah removed for poor performance

Sources said that the DG health took one of the three double-cabin new vehicles, donated by World Health Organisation to strengthen monitoring of all vaccine-preventable ailments including poliomyelitis.

The vehicle was supposed to be used only for vaccine-related work. A month ago, repair of another vehicle from the EPI fund was refused to the DG health.

Sources said that Dr Akram had also refused fuel charges to DG for his visit for non-EPI activities.

However, the charges were paid when he took part in vaccination-related activities.

They said that Dr Akram joined EPI as director in October 2017 and was yet to complete three-year tenure but his tussle over issues with DG cost him the post.

In normal circumstance, he could have been removed for bad performance and embezzlement, sources said.

“His removal is surprising at a time when the province is struggling to deal with outbreak of polio, especially in Bannu division. Recently, team leaders of WHO and Unicef, the main partners of government for eradication of polio, were also replaced. The removal of director EPI will deal serious blow to immunization,” said sources.

Dr Salim, the newly-appointed director of EPI, has taken over the office without the departure of his predecessor. He has proceeded to attend a biannual review meeting held under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in which six-month progress and challenges in the vaccination programmes are discussed. “Instead of sending Dr Akram due to his long association with EPI, the new man is unlikely to present real picture of vaccination in the province,” said sources.

Dr Salim served as director implementation at DG health office prior to his new assignment.

The government had set aside Rs6.24 billion for five years (2015-20) programme that included Rs3.5 billion for vaccines and the rest for the operational work and communication etc.

“The DG health was trying to remove Dr Akram and after several attempts he succeeded in replacing him. The move is likely to create a conflict in EOC.

The EPI is now part of EOC and the new director would try to follow the directives of DG health,” said sources.

Health Secretary Dr Syed Farooq Jamil told Dawn that Dr Akram was removed on account of poor performance.

However, DG Health Dr Arshad Ahmed Khan said that Akram Shah was a competent person and they would deploy him somewhere else shortly.

“I have been using EPI vehicle, which is standard practice in all provinces. We are trying new people because we are in do or die situation with regard to polio as there are outbreaks in Bannu and Lakki etc for which we want to fully concentrate. Transfers are routine matter, taking place now and then, but it doesn’t mean that people are transferred for incompetency,” he said.

He said that DG was head of all programmes so how a subordinate could refuse to him a legal thing.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2019