PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has formed a committee to probe “irregularities” in the appointment of two doctors to the Unicef’s polio section in the province.

The committee comprising the department’s deputy secretary (administration) and section officer (litigation) has formally directed both Dr Tufail Ahmad and Dr Junaid Khan to respond to complaints about their appointment in writing.

It warned that non-compliance with the orders would lead to ex-parte action against the doctors.

The development comes as the health department received complaints about the “irregular” appointments to Unicef’s polio section in the province.

Asks two doctors to respond to complaints

Dr Tufail is allegedly working two jobs at the same time - a trainee medical officer at Peshawar’s Khyber Teaching Hospital and a health specialist with the Unicef’s polio section, while Dr Junaid Khan was appointed to the section as the social behavior change specialist “without meeting the criteria,” according to a health department notification.

According to a complaint lodged by resident Rashid Taheem with the health secretary, Dr Junaid’sappointment as the SCB specialist wasn’t in line with the “established merit-based principles” and standard operating procedures.

“SCB communication is a specialised field with proven experience and understanding of social behavior issues in Pakistan. He doesn’t have the relevant qualification and is performing duties against the role and responsibilities of the position and free and fair inquiry was required to ascertain his selection on the post,” the complaint read.

It added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was worst hit by polio with the health department taking measures to eradicate the disease in collaboration with the Unicef and World Health Organisation.

The complainant said the department was required to pave the way for the smooth sailing of polio vaccination efforts through public awareness of vaccines, while the UN agencies took care of the related technical issues.

He said the Unicef deployed qualified communication officers with required educational qualifications and experience in the province for social change.

Meanwhile, health officials told Dawn that the UN agencies, including Unicef, usually didn’t advertise vacant positions in newspapers but uploaded them on their websites to invite applications.

They said as for government jobs, they’re advertised in at least three newspapers, so hundreds of people applied for them leading to the selection of the best available.

The officials said the Unicef, which had been working for polio eradication in Pakistan for a few decades, was bound by rules to work with the government for the selection of suitable candidates to work with communities on the issue.

They said if irregularities in those appointments were proved, both the doctors would be terminated.

The officials said two jobs by a government employee was illegal in the country.

“A TMO paid by the government during training isn’t allowed to take up another job,” an official told Dawn.

He added that the other medic had worked in the polio programme in different capacities but not as the SBC – a different job altogether.

When contacted, health secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir confirmed that he had ordered an inquiry into the alleged irregular appointments to the polio section.

“We will take action after the completion of a free and fair inquiry. Polio eradication is our top priority and therefore, we will make every effort to deploy qualified people to do away with the childhood ailment,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024