Holy Family hit by administrative controversy

Senior doctors shifted, then restored next day; admin accused of poor planning

RAWALPINDI:

Questions have been raised over administrative discipline and governance at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) after transfer orders affecting several senior doctors were withdrawn just a day after being issued.

A notification issued on May 18 by the Medical Superintendent of HFH transferred three Grade-20 Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) - Dr Tanveer Akhtar, Dr Abid Hassan and Dr Irfan Bashir - to the main OPD new building.

Six Grade-19 Additional PMOs were also reassigned. Dr Nadeem Malik and Dr Saleem Nawaz were transferred to the main OPD, while Dr Rana Sattar, Dr Shahida Imtiaz, Dr Sumaira Sattar and Dr Asma Riaz were posted to the gynaecology OPD.

In addition, two Grade-18 Senior Medical Officers - Dr Haroon Rahim and Dr Raja Qaiser Saeed Khan - were transferred to the paediatrics OPD and main OPD new building, respectively.

Hospital sources said it was the first time in the institution's history that such a large number of senior doctors, who had been performing key administrative and medical responsibilities, were transferred to OPD duties through a single order.

However, amid concerns over the expected reaction and potential administrative difficulties, the hospital administration withdrew the transfer orders on May 19 and restored all the senior doctors to their previous positions.

The issuance of what was described as an unusual and disproportionate order, followed by its withdrawal the very next day, has raised serious questions regarding administrative discipline and governance within the hospital system.