SC unimpressed by K-P hospitals

It was alleged that the provincial govt has followed nepotism

ISLAMABAD: Expressing dissatisfaction over the condition of public hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the top court has sought complete details from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led K-P government over the status of medical facilities in the hospitals.

The bench has also sought info of missing facilities in the public hospitals.

The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a suo motu case regarding the possible extension of Board of Governors (BoG) members who had been appointed allegedly on the basis of nepotism by former chief minister Pervez Khattak.

The application was moved by Young Doctors Association K-P President Dr Rizwan Kundi with the human rights cell of the apex court against the possible extension.

The applicant alleged that PTI chief Imran Khan’s cousin Kiran Nowshewan Burki was selected as the chairman of BoG, while he was serving as the chairman of BoG Peshawar Institute of Cardiology that is a violation of the apex court ruling against holding two positions simultaneously.
“Although he may not withdraw any salary his actions are of government servant and equalise the authority and actions of health secretary BPS-20”

It is also submitted that Faisal Sultan was selected as Chairman BoGs Medical Teaching Institutes Khyber Teaching Hospital (MTI KTH) and he is also ‘closely related to Imran and Burki’.
Likewise, Rubina Gilani was selected as a member of BoG. She is also wife of PTI Senator Nauman Wazir. Arman Nawaz, who is Chairman BoGs MTI DI Khan is close relative of former minister of revenue K-P.

The court on April 26 stopped further recruitment of doctors and teachers through BoGs till a decision on the application.

During the hearing on Thursday, the chief justice said BoG members including Burki violated the court order, adding that spending most of time in the United States.

The chief justice also pointed out that in Abbottabad Complex the kettle was in the operation theater, while the trauma centre in Peshawar was non-functional.

“What it [K-P government] has been doing for the last five years,” the CJP questioned. Why can’t government hospitals be run properly while Shaukat Khannum can, he queried further.

He also said they would improve the health and education sectors at every cost.
No cleanliness in the Abbottabad and Peshawar hospitals, but the provincial government had been making tall claims that they have improved hospitals, he added.

A member of the Board of Directors of K-P Hospitals Faisal Sultan appeared before the court.
He informed the court that the board has been making efforts to improve hospital’s condition, but the time was short.

Earlier, health department secretary submitting written report said the K-P government set in place administrative and financial autonomy mechanism for teaching hospitals through K-P Medical Teaching Institution Reforms 2015.

All BoGs members were appointed with the approval of the cabinet. However, their three-year tenure expired on May 5.
Moreover, the matter was placed before the cabinet to consider either approving their extension or making new appointments.

The provincial cabinet in its meeting held on April 25 considered this matter and approved the reappointment of BoG members subject to an appraisal of their individual performance.

Later, all the members were asked to furnish the report of their performance.
In pursuance of the decision of the provincial cabinet and SC’s verdict, provisional orders of the reappointment are being issued subject to consideration of the performance of the members by the cabinet in its later meeting as well as a final order of the apex court, says the report.
The hearing of the case is adjourned for one month.