ISLAMABAD: The medical tribunal, one of the most important forums to hear complaints in the medical sector, is dysfunctional for the last many months as its chairman could not be appointed.

As a result, over 100 complaints are pending in the tribunal, majority of which are filed by students against medical and dental colleges.

It may be noted here that the Medical Tribunal Act 2020 has no provision for appointing a temporary or acting chairman.

When contacted, Secretary Health Nadeem Mehbub said he joined the department a few days ago and will inquire about the matter.

A senior official of the health ministry, wishing not to be quoted, said the medical tribunal remains dysfunctional since January 3 when the tenure of retired Justice Qalandar Ali Khan completed.

The former judge of Peshawar High Court was the first chairman of the medical tribunal under the Medical Tribunal Act 2020. He was appointed for a period of three years by the prime minister in consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

“Unfortunately, Medical Tribunal Act 2020 does not allow acting chairman or even letting the chairman continue working till the appointment of a new chairman. The ministry tried and even appointed Lahore High Court’s former judge Justice Shoaib Saeed as the acting chairman for three months but he did not assume the charge,” the official said.

Later, he added, an attempt was made to appoint retired Justice Ghulam Azam Qambrani as an acting chairman but he also refused because the appointment could be in violation of the Act.

“Currently, over 100 complaints are pending in the tribunal, majority of them are filed by students who got admissions in medical and dental colleges and even paid fees but after completion of a year were told that they cannot appear in exams as their colleges were not affiliated with universities, or have other issues,” he said.

When asked about the process of appointment, he said first of all the CJP was requested to nominate someone as the chairman. Once the CJP nominates the person, the name is forwarded to the Ministry of Law and finally moved to the prime minister for the issuance of a notification,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2024