“It (HRA) is to be replaced by the HCC and will be run by private and government personnel,” K-P Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani told the media after a cabinet meeting at the Civil Secretariat. “The cabinet also decided to regularise the services of around five hundred ad hoc doctors in the province.”
He said the commission would have nine members, including six from the private sector and three government officials. The health secretary would be the chairperson of the fully autonomous body, he stated.
The cabinet also approved giving full autonomy to four teaching hospitals of the province, namely Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Ayub Teaching Hospital. “Such measures are bound to yield productive results and bring much-needed improvement to the health sector,” Ghani said, adding the hospitals would be run by a board of governors.
He said the K-P chief minister, who chaired the cabinet meeting, directed the health ministry to provide details of the resources needed to equip district headquarters hospitals across the province with all kinds of facilities.
He said the cabinet meeting also approved other measures to ensure good governance in the province, including amendments approved in the K-P Consumer Protection Act 1997. The aim was to develop an improved mechanism to address complaints of consumers and keep a check on substandard material.
Ghani added the provincial cabinet approved tabling a bill in the assembly to set up a censor board for stage shows, dramas and other material. He added that films would also not be released unless approved by the censor board.
Alleged nepotism
Earlier on Monday, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) alleged that favouritism was guiding appointments in the province and that the government was using delaying tactics in introducing the service structure that had been approved a few months back.
“The health minister is promoting VIP culture in the provincial secretariat and is not serious about solving problems,” Hayatabad Medical Complex YDA President Dr Rizwanullah Kundi told journalists at the Peshawar Press Club.
The association warned it would protest outside PTI chief Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence if the government continued to deprive them of their rights.
He said the health minister agreed on a service structure after being put under massive pressure by them. However, Kundi added files were still circulating around the secretariat and awaited approval.
“Today, the health department is running on contractual doctors and authorities are reluctant to make appointments through the public service commission,” Kundi claimed. “The doctors on contract are appointed based on favouritism and even senior specialists are ignored in the selection process.”
The doctors urged Imran Khan to give them their rights and bring the health department back on track.
YDA Spokesman Siraj Lodhi, General Secretary Ghaffar Shah and other young doctors were present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.
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