PESHAWAR: The directives issued by the government regarding posting and transfer of doctors now and then have been affecting official work at health department as important positions are entrusted to officers as additional charge while pool of senior doctors await posting, according to sources.

On August 1, the health department transferred Dr Kalimullah Khan, the director health of newly merged districts, and additional charge was given to Dr Shah Faisal, the district health officer (DHO) of Abbottabad.

“How a person can look after the merged districts from Abbottabad where he is preoccupied with his permanent position,” sources questioned.

They said that government took several measures to revamp health system in merged districts, however, the move was incomprehensible as the system would witness changes in the absence of a regular director.

Govt directives to appoint officials on regular basis fall on deaf ears

Dr Kalim was sent to tribal districts on February 12 to set things right there but the notification of his transfer said that he was removed for poor performance.

Usually, the notifications don’t describe much but simply say that the competent authority has been pleased to transfer a person to another place in public interests.

Dr Kalim was removed from hepatitis control programme prior to his positing as director health merged districts where he introduced oral pills for three and six months, replacing the injections and the province was the first to do so.

Health system in merged districts requires permanent head to implement the government’s directives with regard to much-needed improvement there.

Another senior management cadre doctor has been given additional charge of DHO Lakki Marwat. He is required to take care of the whole district health system from Peshawar where he is posted permanently.

The medical superintendent of district headquarters hospital Hangu has been given additional charge of DHQ Lakki Marwat. It is not humanly possible for a person to look after another district level hospital located far away from his own duty station.

Last month, the department issued directives to do away with additional charges and post doctors on permanent basis. There are standing directives from the chief minister to avoid temporary and additional charge posting on acting charge basis as these have been hampering the official work but the same has been continued unabated.

Last month, DHO Swat was transferred to Peshawar and his assistant there was entrusted acting charge of the position. DHO is a person, who directs the entire district health in a district. “People working on additional charge cannot be substitute for permanent officers because they lack full-fledged authority,” said sources.

The director-general provincial health services academy, director mother and child health and the head of lady health workers programme are also holding the important posts on acting charge basis, which has adverse impact on the routine affairs of the health department.

Sources said that there were senior management cadre doctors, who were awaiting posting on permanent basis to run the respective offices effectively. The provincial government had last month issued directives to all the departments to appoint officials on regular basis so that the government’s affairs could have smooth sailing but the directives have fallen on deaf ears.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2019