PESHAWAR: Several doctors having additional charge of different positions in health department will have to retain only one post and give up charge of extra position as per the announcement of Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah.

In pursuance of the health minister’s announcement last month, secretariat is awaiting further instructions to implement the directives.

“Yes, it is announcement of health minister. The moment he finalises his plan, it will be implemented,” Health Secretary Mahmud Aslam Wazir told Dawn when asked if the department would enforce the minister’s instructions regarding action against dual charge-holders.

On one hand many doctors are sitting idle while on the other several are holding more than one charge of important positions at the same time, causing issues.

Health secretariat awaits further instructions to enforce directives

To begin with, Director-General Health Services Dr Shaukat Ali is also working as project director (PD) of Timergara Medical College, provincial coordinator of lady health workers programme and additional director-general of Malakand division. He is also PD of National Health Support Programme (NHSP).

Dr Irshad Ali Roghani, the district health officer (DHO) of Dir Lower in BPS-18, was assigned additional charge of director public health last year when Dr Nekdad Khan Afridi got retired. He is still sitting on the same position. He has also been assigned the duty to look after the activities and role of director integrated vector control programme at the office of directorate general health services, Peshawar. Dr Irshad is also deputy PD of NHSP.

Dr Qadir Shah, a medical officer in BPS-17, has been posted as deputy project director in World Bank’s Human Capital Investment Project (HCIP). He has also been working in health secretariat.

Dr Abid Hussain, the additional director general of monitoring and evaluation in BPS-20, has been given additional charge of chief executive officer of regional blood bank, although the position is non-existent on paper. Dr Faisal Khanzada, another BPS-20 officer, is working as DHO of Abbottabad and additional director-general health of Hazara division simultaneously.

Dr Javed Iqbal, a general cadre BPS-20, who is basically medical superintendent (MS) of district headquarters hospital Mardan, also holds the position of district health officer Mardan. He was given additional charge by health secretary on the recommendation of a Mardan-based minister in 2022. He is still working on both the posts.

Another example is that of Dr Wazir Safi, a BPS-19 officer of management cadre, who served as DHO of North Waziristan previously on a post of BPS-18. He was transferred and posted as MS of district headquarters hospital Bajaur where he is also holding the position of DHO on additional charge basis.

All these additional charges have been given to these officers on the directive of health secretary from time to time. Only secretary can order appointments on positions of BPS-17 and above.

Umar Khitab, a computer operator, is looking after four programmes in addition to his basic duty. Sources in health department said that additional responsibilities were assigned to those doctors from one to three years ago despite the fact that it was not only illegal but very difficult to run two or more positions by simultaneously.

“Some of the dual charge-holders want to leave one position so that they can focus on their primary duty. For instance, Dr Musa, who has been given additional charge of integrated health programme in addition to his basic assignment of manager of TB control programme, has been requesting the department to relieve him of the additional duty so he can focus on his basic duty,” they said.

Sources said that Dr Nasreen Akbar Khan was working as MS of Maternity Hospital. “It is a BPS-19 position while she has been promoted to BPS-20,” they added.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024