Concerns voiced over appointment of AIMC principal

Three candidates out of 30 have been shortlisted by search committee

LAHORE: The doctor’s community across the province voiced their concerns over the appointment of a regular principal at Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) Lahore on Saturday.

The search committee, established on the directives of the Punjab government, has finalised the names for the appointment of a regular principal. Sources revealed that so far three candidates, out of the 30 that applied for the position, have been shortlisted by the committee. These include Dr Amtul Zareen, Prof Nadeem Hafeez and Prof Arif Tajamal.

However, the doctors’ community has come forward to voice their unhappiness about the process. They are of the opinion that a specific group of people were preferred for the position of medical college heads and principals in Punjab.



Also, allegedly only eight of the 30 applicants appeared for the interview, while the rest boycotted it.

“There is a strong network of professionals that dominate this circle. These people appoint their own to position of power,” maintained a senior professor while requesting anonymity.

Bureaucracy in the health department is something we cannot accept. We are hoping the coming government will appoint a neutral health secretary. “Until that happens, we cannot hope for unbiased appointments,” the professor added.

A summary of the appointment process has been sent to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. However, sources added that Prof Arif Tajamal is most likely to be appointed as principal. When the decision is finalised, an official notification will be issued after the CM’s approval.

Previously, the health department, on the directives of the Supreme Court, removed the previous AIMC principal for gross mismanagement.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2018.