MULTAN: The Punjab Health Department has allegedly flown in the face of the hiring criterion for the post of medical superintendent of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology (CPEIC) by calling two ineligible (grade 18) doctors for interviews.

The advertisement clearly states that only the doctors in grade 19 and 20 are eligible for the post. Sources allege that the two junior doctors have been afforded an opportunity to appear in the interview to accommodate one of them. The interviews were held in Lahore on Friday.

The Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education (SH&ME) department in December last issued an advertisement seeking to hire the healthcare professionals for the posts of medical superintendents of 12 teaching hospitals. The interested candidates/doctors of general cadre working as additional principal medical officers and additional principal woman medical officers (both of grade 19), and principal medical officers and principal woman medical officers (grade 20) could apply.

The preference, reads the ad, will be given to the doctors who possess qualification of Master’s of Public Health, Diploma in Health Administration, Diploma in Mother and Child Health, Master’s in Health Management, Diploma in Health Management and MSc (medical admin) or higher/equivalent qualification and experience. The candidates were advised to send their applications by Dec 27.

A similar advertisement was published earlier in May 2019 in which the post of the CPEIC medical superintendent (besides those of officials of five other health facilities) was sought to be filled and it stated that “the aforementioned additional qualifications are compulsory.” The latest ad stated that the candidates having additional qualifications would be preferred.

Sources told Dawn that the process for filling the post of the cardiology institute MS was completed and even interviews were conducted but no one was hired in order to accommodate a junior doctor who was earlier given the additional charge of the MS. The doctor, sources said, enjoyed backing of an influential political figure.

Among the 11 candidates who appeared before the Selection Board on Friday were Dr Nabeel and Dr Faheem Labore, both senior medical officers in grade 18, said sources. They said a delegation of MPAs met Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and requested him to accommodate one of the SMOs.

SH&ME department spokesman Hammad Raza said the two grade 18 doctors applied for the post and were called for interviews. The entire hiring process, he assured, would be done on merit.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2020