PESHAWAR: Health department has taken exception to non-compliance of its directives aiming to prevent Board of Governors (BoGs) of medical teaching institutions from taking major decisions.

The department has directed the BoGs of medical teaching institutions to implement its instructions or be ready to face action as per law.

A notification issued by health department on Tuesday said that it had come to its knowledge that BoGs were carrying out certain activities in violation of the ban imposed on them on March 3 and 21, preventing them from taking major policy decisions. “It is serious violation of the directives of competent authorities,” it said.

Health minister has issued instructions that all BoGs of medical teaching institutions should immediately cease those activities, which are against the previous directives otherwise they will be dealt with as per MTI Act and rules. “They have been directed to enforce the directives in letter and spirit,” said the notification of health department.

BoGs of teaching hospitals warned of action for taking major policy decisions

Sources said that that the PTI government was not able to replace the BoGs despite remaining in powers for more than three weeks. “Prof Nausherwan Burki, who crafted the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act during the first stint of PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, wanted to remove the BoGs as soon as possible but the department is yet to take action in this regard,” they added.

They said that despite issuance of two notifications by health department, the BoGs continued to take decisions, much to the chagrin of the people, who drafted and enforced the law.

In 2015, Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act was implemented in 10 teaching hospitals and its constituent medical colleges after which those institutes slipped away of health department’s control and were run through the policy dictated by respective Board of Governors. Each BoG consists of seven members from private sector, who take all major decisions regarding their respective institute and appoint high-ranking people on lucrative salaries. BoGs are legally authorised to create new positions, abolish old posts and spend one-line budget released by government as per their own needs.

Owing to the powerfulness of BoGs, the caretaker government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa replaced them and removed the ones appointed by the PTI government. The removed members of BoGs also included Prof Nausherwan Burki, who was chairman of BoG at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and MTI-policy board.

However, after establishment of the PTI government in the province for third consecutive time, the authorities concerned have yet to remove the BoGs and pave the way for Prof Burki to resume work. “This has angered Prof Burki, who wanted immediate replacement of the BoGs and policy board,” said sources.

According to them, health department has issued two notifications asking the BoGs of medical teaching institutions to refrain from making major decisions but its directives have fallen on deaf ears and the existing boards continue to issue orders regarding termination of contracts approved by their predecessors.

“It is the third notification issued by the department. The BoGs not only take major steps but some of them are directly involved in management of day-to-day affairs,” they said. The last meeting of the existing policy board showed concerns regarding the direct involvement of the chairpersons or members of BoGs in the micromanagement within various MTIs which it said was inconsistent with the fundamental principles of MTIs. The BoGs were advised to adhere to the MTIRA’s rules and regulations and refrain from direct involvement in day-to-day affairs and rather focus on policy guidelines.

“However, some chairmen and members of BoGs continue to stick to micromanagement of MTIs,” they said.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2024