Drug Regulatory Agency: Senior officers vying for the top slot

DG Health Services Academy Dr Asad Hafeez is the hot contender.

ISLAMABAD:

Many senior officers have stepped up efforts to clinch the coveted slot of chief of the newly formed Drug Regularity Agency (DRA) as the cabinet division is all set to send a summary to the prime minister for approval to fill the seats.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani holds the authority to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) of the agency. The race for the slot began on Monday when the cabinet division started paperwork on appointing a CEO and members of DRA, officials told The Express Tribune.

President Asif Ali Zardari has issued an ordinance for the establishment of DRA under article 144 of the Constitution. The ordinance was issued on the suggestion of the federal government after the approval of resolutions in all provincial legislatures to this effect.

Under this ordinance, DRA will consist of a CEO and 13 members, which includes member registration, medicines, licencing, pharmacy, prices determination, manpower and legal affairs.

The hot contender for the slot is Director General of Health Services Academy Dr Asad Hafeez.   He has also served as adviser to the director general health. Later, he served as acting DG health when former DG Health Dr Rasheed Jumma received superannuation.

According to the ordinance, the agency’s CEO will work under the cabinet division secretary. Officials, on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that he could not assume the charge because he is presently working in BPS 19. It is obligatory for the CEO to be a BPS 21 official, they explained.

“I’m satisfied with my current job and have no knowledge whether the government is considering me for the slot or not,” Hafeez told The Express Tribune.

Chief Health of Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry Prof Iftikhar is also being considered for the slot. He has also served in the health ministry and as Director General National Institute of Health. Cabinet division officials claimed that Dr Hafeez, who is a nephew of Tariq Aziz, security adviser to former president Pervez Musharraf, will likely win the race.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2012.