‘Lobby’ undermines rules in doctors’ exchange

Transfer of medical personnel without the required NOC, their reinstatement without proper inquiry during suspensions

RAWALPINDI:

An influential lobby is said to have rendered the process of mutual exchange of doctors between the Rawalpindi District Health Authority (DHA) and the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBH) ineffective as doctors disciplined for alleged misconducts are reinstated without due accountability.

The transfer of medical personnel without the required NOC and their reinstatement without proper inquiry during suspensions have raised questions about adherence to departmental rules.

According to sources, Dr Aiman Mehmood Randhawa, a grade-17 officer, was initially transferred from the Attock District Health Authority to the Gujar Khan Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

However, shortly thereafter, she was transferred to the dengue ward of BBH for six months without the necessary NOC. Interestingly, Dr Randhawa has been transferred right before the end of the dengue epidemic.

Sources further said in 2022, when she was transferred for the first time to the Gujar Khan Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, then-provincial minister Dr Akhtar Malik had ordered her to report to the department concerned after suspending her over absence from duty.

Upon the provincial minister's orders, the official remained suspended for four months. However, after the end of the minister’s tenure, she was reinstated.

Her suspension was revoked without an inquiry, sources added.

The doctor then got herself transferred to the desired location multiple times before ending up at a key post at the Gujar Khan hospital ‘but never performed her duties’.

Subsequently, on October 10, she was posted to BBH without the necessary departmental NOC. When asked about the controversial exchange and the apparent disregard for proper procedures, DHA Chief Executive Dr Ejaz Ahmed confirmed that NOCs were not issued.

He said he did exactly what was ordered by the incumbent Punjab health minister.