ISLAMABAD:
Dr Umar Baloch has been appointed the national technical focal person for the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell.
The appointment comes amid an alarming rise in polio cases, with 202 reported this year, the highest in 14 years.
Associated with the Balochistan Health Department, Dr Baloch has served as a general surgeon at the Department of Urology at Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
In October 2008, he was sent on deputation to the federal government and was posted to JPMC.
A National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination official told The Express Tribune the notification was issued by the PM Secretariat on Friday.
The official claimed the appointment was made on political basis as he is the brother of Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch.
Dr Altaf Boson, Baloch’s predecessor, has been repatriated to National Institute of Health (NIH), his parent department. His previous posting at NIH was senior scientific officer, a grade-18 post.
Dr Boson said he was unaware of the development and that he has not received any notification as yet.
“I am working under the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation assisting prime minister’s focal person who has the leadership role in the PM’s Polio Monitoring Cell,” he said.
PM Polio Monitoring Cell Focal Person Ayesha Raza Farooq was not available for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2014.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ