BAJAUR, April 4: The NWFP secretary health has cancelled recent transfers of senior doctors in the Bajaur tribal agency and also withdrawn the powers of transfers and postings from the agency surgeon.

Sources said the Bajaur Agency Surgeon, Dr Mohammad Ali Chohan, had transferred a number of senior doctors in the agency last week, and added that the orders were reversed by the provincial health secretary over complaints against the agency surgeon.

The sources said the doctors, who were transferred to other areas, had refused to obey the orders of the agency surgeon and challenged his authority by not performing duty either at the new or the previous stations.

The continued absence of doctors in the hospitals created a number of problems for the common people, and further deteriorated the already pathetic health care situation in these areas.

The health secretary and the director-general of health services had formed a committee to find out the reasons behind the transfers of about one dozen senior doctors in the agency.

In the light of the findings of the inquiry committee, the health secretary cancelled the transfers and also directed all the agency surgeons in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) that they had no power to carry out postings and transfers of doctors.

The agency surgeons have also been directed that they had no power to issue transfer orders of any government servants in the tribal agencies, except the para-medical staff up to grade 7 and class four employees.

A notification issued on Friday directed the agency surgeons against any violation of these orders.