Medical education department looks into VC's dual role

The Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SHC&ME) Department has sought explanation over the continuation as the elected senior vice president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) as the head of a public sector medical university.

According to sources, the development has delayed consideration of Fatima Jinnah Medical University VC Dr Khalid Masud Gondal for No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to apply for the vice chancellorships of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), King Edward Medical University (KEMU) and the FJMU itself until his response is received.

The sources said the department had raised the question whether the VC's election as SVP of the CPSP is compatible with the conditions under which he had been appointed in July 2022. It also sought clarification on whether he had obtained permission from the competent authority before assuming the elected office.

It recalled in a letter that the appointment as VC was conditional upon submitting an undertaking regarding not holding any paid or unpaid administrative, academic or honorary office in any organisation or professional body except the regular government post. The sources said officials were examining whether the elected CPSP office fell within the scope of the restriction.

The statutory institution is responsible for specialist training, postgraduate examinations and fellowship programmes in postgraduate medical education.

Officials in the SHC&ME department said any decision would be taken after considering the explanation and the relevant legal provisions. The Punjab government is filling several top positions in public sector medical universities.

When contacted, Dr Gondal said he was currently on leave for personal reasons, but there were clear decisions of high court benches about the matter and they would be submitted to the specialised healthcare and medical education department.