LAHORE: The Punjab government has removed the medical superintendents (MSs) of nine teaching hospitals on multiple charges during a short period of last two weeks, reportedly triggering an administrative turmoil at the major health facilities of the province.

Those removed included Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health Multan MS Dr Kamran Asif, Gujranwala Teaching Hospital MS Dr Attique Ahmad, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital MS Dr Zulfiqar Hyder, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi MS Dr Ejaz Ahmed Butt, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan MS Dr Faisal Waheed, Gujranwala Medical College Teaching Hospital MS Dr Nayyar Imran Haider, Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital DG Khan MS Dr Shahid Hussain Magsi.

The Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat MS was placed under suspension under PEEDA Act 2006 on account of inefficiency and misconduct.

Most notifications issued by the department to remove the MSs claimed they were ‘transferred on administrative grounds. But sources said the action was initiated following a series of surprise inspections carried out by the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team (CMIT) that, in its report to the chief minister, alleged that the medics were incompetent and negligent and some of them were involved in ‘financial irregularities’.

In some cases, the CMIT claimed that the MSs had failed to ensure supply of essential medicines to the patients who had to purchase them from pharmacies.

Govt says MSs were transferred on administrative grounds; sources say CMIT found them incompetent, negligent and ‘corrupt in some cases’

On the other hand, an official, close to the information, says the abrupt transfers of so many heads of hospitals have led to the administrative turmoil in the major teaching institutes of Punjab. According to him, the search committee was constituted by the Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education (SHC&ME) Department on the directives of the CM on March 29, 2025 to look for suitable officers to head the public hospitals.

Chaired by Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, the committee comprised Adviser to the Chief Minister retired Maj Gen Dr Azhar Kayani, the then special secretary (Operations) SHC&ME Department (now retired), King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Vice Chancellor Prof Mahmood Ayyaz, former Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervez, and the chief executive officer of the Punjab Healthcare Commission. The committee interviewed several candidates and forwarded recommendations to the CM. Following CM’s approval, postings were made in mid-May.

The official says that the subsequent removal of several appointees within a short span raised fundamental questions regarding the reliability of the selection process itself.

Some senior officials within the health department, privy to internal deliberations, assert that such sweeping and abrupt transfers have instilled fear and uncertainty within hospital administrations, potentially undermining institutional efficiency rather than enhancing governance.

They argue that repeated reshuffling within months reflects lack of confidence in the very search committee that recommended these officers. They have also strongly censured the government’s approach, describing it as ‘symptomatic treatment’ rather than addressing the systemic governance failures. They emphasize that chronically overburdened healthcare institutions cannot deliver optimal outcomes amid constraints of financial and human resources.

The experts urge the government to extend targeted relief to low and middle-income populations through health cards issued on the basis of comprehensive socioeconomic surveys, warning that administrative interventions devoid of structural reforms will remain counterproductive.

They advocate for a rationalised referral mechanism and equitable geographical distribution of patient admissions rather than targeting the senior administrative staff.

Certain hospitals, they note, have adopted a culture of excessive referrals instead of strengthening in-house service delivery. The Children’s Hospital Multan is cited as a glaring example of this dysfunction where patients are routinely referred (even from its emergency department) to the already overcrowded and underfunded Nishtar Hospital Multan—a general hospital—contravening established referral hierarchies that mandated referrals from general to specialised institutions, not vice versa.

Experts further criticise the government for making ‘persistent selective accountability’. They say that at a time when MSs were summarily removed, the senior academic and administrative office-bearers—such as VCs, principals, deans, and executive directors—continue to enjoy ‘institutional immunity’ despite wielding ultimate administrative and financial authority. They argue that the hospital administrators must be afforded sufficient tenure to implement reforms and deliver results, coupled with the provision of requisite resources.

Similarly, they suggest review of the powers of the search committee by expanding its scope from nominations to the constant supervision.

Pakistan Medical Association Lahore President Prof Dr Shahid Malik lashed out at the Punjab government for the abrupt removal of the MSs, calling it a ‘humiliating act’ towards the medical professionals. He raised questions about jurisdiction and competence of the CMIT, saying that a majority of its team consisted of irrelevant officials with no experience regarding the procurement process of medicines, government hospitals and their affairs.

“Action against the heads of the government hospitals on the recommendations of the CMIT was nothing except a series of punishments to disgrace and defame the health institutions and the professionals,” said the PMA president.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2026