PESHAWAR, May 13: The NWFP health department has decided to introduce an administrative cadre in the health sector in order to run the affairs of the districts and branches effectively, sources told Dawn.
A decision to this effect was taken in view of the administrative problems emanating from various districts and sections, headed by the general cadre doctors. These doctors, sources added, didn’t know the administrative laws and were entirely at the mercy of the office superintendents, who more often than not misguided them on administrative matters of vital importance.
According to sources, a meeting attended by high-ranking health officials, besides health minister, last month decided that a policy would be devised for future where promotion of the doctors working on the administrative posts would be made in accordance with their qualification in health administration.
According to new arrangement, appointment to the posts in BPS-17 shall be made by permanent transfer from amongst the cadre of medical officer in BPS-17 having qualification of Masters in Public Health/Health Management Planning and Policy/Hospital Administration/Health Information System or equivalent qualification from a recognized university as determined by the government with three years service as medical officer.
Similarly, 70 per cent promotion to BPS-18 would be made on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness, whereas 30 per cent on the basis of initial recruitment on the recommendations of the Public Service Commission (PSC) from the candidates having passed MBBS and Masters degrees in public health systems with three years experience in the relevant field.
Ninety per cent promotion to BPS-19 would be made on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness and 10 per cent by initial recruitment on the recommendation of the PSC from the candidates already working in BPS-18 and having M.Phil or Ph.D with MBBS.
To BPS-20, promotion would be made on seniority-cum-fitness from the those already working in BPS-19.
The government has also identified a total of 180 administrative posts, including, BPS-17 (82), BPS-18 (60), BPS-19 (34) and BPS-20 (4), where the doctors fulfilling the laid down rules for appointment would be recruited.
These doctors, the sources said, would be appointed on key posts in districts, directorate of health, directorate of health Fata and principals and vice-principals of paramedical institutes, nursing school and health services academies.
A similar programme was proposed by the government in 2002, which was later deferred, following the resentment shown by the general cadre doctors already working on the administrative posts, sources said.
The doctors said that the government first sent their blue-eyed doctors to universities in UK and Europe on scholarships to obtain degrees in health management and on return were awarded four advance increments on salaries. They said that the introduction of separate administrative cadre, especially for those having qualification in health management, was an encroachment on their right.
The general cadre doctors moved the court and an order was issued in their favour through which the introduction of the administrative cadre in health department was stayed.
This time it would be a replay of the past experience of the government and the doctors opposing it would again go to the court, sources said.