PESHAWAR: The nursing director of Khyber Teaching Hospital has been re-appointed on acting basis after completing three-year tenure on the post despite findings of government’s inquiry, which has termed his earlier recruitment in violation of rules.

An inquiry conducted by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on the instructions of Supreme of Court last year has found that the nursing director of KTH was not fit to be shortlisted for the interview because he lacked experience as well as qualification. However, he was not only allowed to complete his term, but was also appointed on ad hoc basis.

The Board of Governors (BoG) of KTH on August 23 decided to advertise the post of nursing director on completion of the tenure of Rehmatullah on August 24. However, he will work on acting basis in his present pay of Rs200, 000 per month, according to a notification.

Prior to KTH, Rehmatullah was employee at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH), Lahore. Dr Faisal Sultan chief executive officer of SKMCH has been chairman of KTH BoG since 2015.

Probe has found his earlier appointment in violation of rules

In 2018, the health department ordered several inquiries into alleged irregularities in the public sector medical teaching institutions on the directives of Supreme Court that found appointment of nursing director of KTH in violation of merit.

The probe was conducted on the directive of apex court by special secretary health, additional secretaries of finance and establishment departments and chief executive officer of Postgraduate Medical Institute. It also concluded that Rehmatullah did not qualify to be appointed as he lacked the required experience in accordance with the rules of Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC).

It also revealed that the nursing director, who claimed to have done PhD in nursing, had actually a nursing diploma instead.

“A person, who supervised Mr Rehmatullah during his job at SKMCH, was a member of the interview panel that selected him for the post of nursing director of KTH, which is a classic case of conflict of interest,” said finding of the probe.

It said that qualification for the post advertised in January 2016 also included at least seven years administrative and teaching experience and PNC’s registration but he did not meet the criteria and was not fit to be shortlisted let alone to be appointed.

The Supreme Court has twice asked the health department to submit compliance report regarding the findings of the probe but to no avail. “He has escaped many charges of harassment of female nurses due to his SKMCH’s background,” said sources.

Abda Bibi, a nursing superintendent at KTH, submitted a complaint at the office of the medical director wherein she stated: “I went to ND office on November 21, 2017 and he started shouting, used abusive language and called me worse than illiterate and dirty woman.” However, no action was taken. Other complaints lodged by female staff also went unheeded.

Dr Faisal Sultan, the chairman of KTH BoG, when contacted, said that if he was to be favoured, they could have simply renewed his tenure. “Also my track record at SKMCH should speak for meritocratic appointments. This was a collective board decision that it was better to allow him to continue,” he said.

The post has been advertised again to hire a new person.

“Rehmatullah has now been working on the position on acting basis but would appear for the interview again and indications are there that he would be hired again because the qualification is the same as was three year before,” said sources.

Dr Faisal Sultan said that the hiring process was under way that would be completed in a few weeks. “A committee will ensure no bias in selection process. SKMCH has nearly 3,000 employees and can’t favour anyone,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2019