Electioneering?: Health Department contests ECP’s ban on fresh recruitments

Says restrictions will affect operations, result in shortage of staffers.

PESHAWAR:

Provincial Health Minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah has sought an exemption from the ban placed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on fresh recruitments in government departments.

Earlier this week, the election commission issued directives to ban recruitments in federal, provincial and local government departments to deter massive inductions ahead of the upcoming general elections, saying it would amount to pre-poll rigging.

The commission, however, added the ban will not apply to inductions made through the federal or provincial public service commissions.

“How will the (health) department function if we don’t induct new employees for the coming five months?” questioned Shah during a news conference at the Officers Mess on Thursday. He sought the exemption from ECP, saying the department was in the process of recruiting nurses, doctors and other staffers, including teachers.

The minister said he would personally present the case before the ECP in Islamabad, adding that heath is one of the essential services and the department is always on active duty.

He maintained inducting new staff is an ongoing process in the sector and restrictions would affect operations. “We require around 1,200 more doctors to overcome the deficiency at health care centres across the province.”



About the issue of doctors appointed on ad hoc basis, the health minister said legislation clearly indicated that if doctors go on leave, deputation or for higher education, the post is considered vacant till their return.

“New doctors for these posts are inducted on ad hoc basis for a year, and any extension is also done on a yearly basis till the return of the concerned official.”

He said 500 ad hoc doctors were inducted last year and the same number will be inducted in the current year. He clarified that the ad hoc doctors are not supposed to demand regularisation of services under the law.

Shah also deliberated over the department’s performance, saying the Health Regulatory Authority (HRA) has been extended from Peshawar to Abbottabad, Bannu and Malakand in order to better regulate the sector. He added public representatives will be a part of the HRA committee in every district.

Divulging details of the health budget for the current fiscal year, Shah said the sector’s non-developmental budget stands at Rs12 billion and development budget at Rs8 billion, while Rs4 billion will be contributed by donor agencies.

He said the government has constructed the Benazir Bhutto Children’s Hospital in Mardan costing Rs2.2 billion, Accident and Emergency Unit in district headquarters hospitals of Charsadda, Kohat and DI Khan along with a children and maternity hospital in Charsadda costing Rs1.5 billion. A rehabilitation centre for people with mental disabilities was set up at a cost of Rs1.2 billion in Peshawar.

Also speaking at the conference, provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain echoed Shah’s views.

Hussain said the ECP issued its directives in good faith and “we accept it.” He, however, added that that the commission should consider their demands on humanitarian grounds. “[They] should not cast an eye of doubt on the government’s mandate.”

Referring to inductions in certain government departments in need of more workforce, Hussain asked rhetorically if it was not the elected government’s responsibility to take necessary steps.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2013.