PESHAWAR: In less than two weeks after it got a new minister, the health department carried out a major shakeup of its administrative machinery by assigning new duties to 28 senior officers, including director general (health services).

Shahram Khan Tarakai took over as the health minister on Jan 4.

Mr Shahram, who had held the health portfolio in the Pervez Khattak cabinet for around four years, succeeded from Dr Hisham Inamullah, who led the department since the incumbent setup took over in the province.

Health secretary Yahya Akhunzada told Dawn that the government has posted the right man to the right job in the reshuffle.

“The committed and honest people, who were sidelined, have been brought back and posted to the right place,” he said.

DG among 28 senior officers transferred

Among 28 health officials, who were reshuffled, was director general (health services) Dr Arshad Ahmad, who has been made an officer on special duty. Dr Tahir Nadeem Khan was made his successor.

Dr Nadeem, a BS-20 officer of health management cadre, was awaiting posting at the health department. Dr Arshad was told to report to the health department.

Sources claimed that Dr Nadeem was a very committed and honest officer, who had been for the first time given a major position in the health hierarchy.

They said another key official could face the axe in few days.

A notification issued here said Dr Mohammad Ayub Rose, a BS-20 officer of management cadre, who awaited posting, had been posted as the DG of the Provincial Health Services Academy.

Dr Janbaz Afridi, the PHSA DG, was posted as the managing director of the Health Foundation Peshawar on deputation.

Dr Mohammad Javed, the additional director general (monitoring and evaluation) at DGHS, was posted as the chief executive officer of the medical faculty, Peshawar, on deputation, while the medical faculty’s head, Dr Naik Nawaz, was made the district health officer of Dera Ismail Khan district.

Dr Jawad Habib awaiting posting at the health department was posted the CEO of the blood transfusion authority on deputation basis by relieving Dr Jamal Nasir of additional charge.

Dr Shaheen Afridi, who headed the Technical Health Foundation, was made the additional director of the DGHS.

Dr Haroon, the additional director general of the DGHS, was posted as the director of the integrated health programme and Dr Wali Khan, the PHSA director, as the director of the Technical Health Foundation.

Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada, the director (health services) at the merged areas, was made the district health officer of Abbottabad and Dr Niaz Afridi, vice-principal of the Health Development Centre, Swat, the director (health services) for merged areas.

Dr Anisa Afridi, coordinator for the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programme, was posted as the medical superintendent of the Maternity Hospital, Hashtnagri, Peshawar.

DHO of Dera Ismail Khan Dr Tariq Masood Miankhel was made the additional director general of the DGHS, while Dr Shad Ali Khan, the additional director general (admin) of the DGHS, was told to report to the DGHS.

Swabi DHO Dr Niaz Mohammad was posted as the additional director general (admin) at the DGHS. Director of the integrated health programme Dr Rauf Khattak was made the chief medical officer of the Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital, Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2020