PESHAWAR: Young Doctors Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has expressed concern over the alleged irregularities in appointment of people on senior positions on high salaries and demanded immediate legal action against the chairman board of governors, Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, YDA provincial president Dr Asfandyar Bittani, accompanied by spokesperson Dr Hafeez Orakzai and other members of the association, alleged that the HMC had become a “hub of corruption and mismanagement.”

According to him the appointments of director research, supply chain manager, pharmacy manger, director finance, research assistant and others were made without taking into consider yon merit. Two over-aged persons have been hired on high salaries without any advertisement and interviews, he said.

Dr Bittani said the association had brought forward documentary evidence against the chairman BoG after Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi’s announcement regarding action against corruption in the province.

Finance director was removed from Qazi Hussain Ahmed medical Complex Nowshera on corruption charges but was recruited in HMC on Rs800, 000 per month salary in addition to 220 litres petrol in sheer violation of merit.

He alleged that illegal appointments were made at HMC in violation of the service structure and health regulations, while favouritism and nepotism had damaged the institution’s reputation. He said the HMC, once considered a model healthcare institution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was now facing serious administrative decline.

Dr Hafeez Orakzai claimed that individuals who had previously been blacklisted were later appointed to key positions, adding that internal audit mechanisms in hospitals lacked transparency. He demanded an impartial inquiry into the alleged corruption and publication of the findings.

The YDA leaders also criticised what they termed “illegal appointments” to the posts of research director and research assistant and called for completion of pending corruption inquiries.

The association demanded reforms in institutional share distribution, duty rosters, promotions and recruitment procedures, insisting that appointments of doctors should be made through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission instead of on an ad hoc basis.

The doctors also called for a 50 per cent increase in allowances and relief from what they described as excessive taxation on salaries, including income tax, professional tax, KPRA tax, union council tax and sales tax deductions.

Dr Bittani said doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were under severe financial pressure despite serving on the frontline during emergencies including the Covid-19 pandemic. He urged the provincial government to announce special incentives for doctors in the upcoming budget and increase salaries for house officers, medical officers, FCPS trainees and professors.

Warning of a protest movement after Eid, the YDA leaders said the provincial government would be responsible if their demands were ignored.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2026