PESHAWAR, Oct 10: The provincial chief secretary is likely to reject a health department proposal for appointment of a junior doctor to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar as chief executive, Dawn has learnt.

On September 9, Dr Abdul Hameed stepped down as the chief executive LRH on frequent interference of a close relative of the provincial health minister in the hospital's affairs, especially on fresh appointments, said an insider.

The minister's relative is also member of the hospital's institutional management council.

After Dr Hameed's exit, the health department recommended Associate Professor Dr Niamatullah as his successor in a summary, which was sent back with comments that

“The person was too junior to be appointed to a post that is supposed to look after the province's biggest 1,200-bed hospital,” according to the source.

Generally, the department sends a panel of three persons from which the appropriate one is selected by the chief secretary.

However, in LRH case, only Dr Niamatullah's name was recommended for the top post.

The source said the chief secretary also wanted the said post to be filled through proper advertisement in newspapers 'for selection of the best available person from the market'.

The source said the chief secretary noted that the three-year contract of the LRH chief executive would expire on January 15, 2012 and the said post should be looked after by the hospital's medical superintendent.

The medical superintendent has already been given additional charge of the post.

The source said Dr Niamatullah had no administrative experience, a prerequisite for appointment to the top LHR post, which carries Rs150,000 monthly salary besides other benefits.

The chief executive LRH also handles the affairs of the postgraduate medical institute.

Another source said the government has yet not decided whether it wanted to continue with the hospitals' autonomy or not, but chances were that some changes would be made to the autonomy act due to which the need for appointment of new CE would not arise.

When contacted, Secretary Health Munir Azam confirmed that the chief secretary had some reservations about the department's summary for Dr Niamatullah's appointment to LRH as chief executive, but hastened to add that the summary had been sent back after attending to the said reservations.

“We have proposed Dr Niamatullah's name for an interim period and technically speaking, it is possible to appoint him. However, it is up to the competent authority to approve or reject the name,” he said.