Sectoral reform: Autonomy proposed for institute of public health

The Health Dept seeks to abolish the IPH’s closed cadre system.

LAHORE:

The Health Department has requested Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to grant the Institute of Public Health an autonomous status.

A summary forwarded by the Health Department for the chief minister’s approval reads, “The Institute of Public Health may be notified as an Autonomous Medical Institution under Section 3 of the Punjab Medical and Health Institution, Act 2003”.

An officer at the chief minister’s secretariat told The Express Tribune that the chief minister had approved the summary. However, the Health Department was unable to confirm that.

According to the summary, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the Health Department has proposed that, “Until the constitution of a Board of Management, an Administrative Committee comprising the following may be formed: 1) Secretary Health 2) Dean, Institute of Public Health, 3) Director Finance of the Institution 4) Registrar of University of Health Sciences”.



“The Closed Cadre structure of the teaching staff of the IPH may be abolished. The staff may be allowed to work in other institutions of the Health Department and teaching staff in other institutions may also be allowed to serve in IPH. The inter-se seniority of the faculty of IPH in the relevant specialties may be fixed on the basis of their date of entry in their present grades/regular pay scales and posts viz assistant professor/associate professor and professor. Epidemic Control Department may be established at the IPH after approval from the Administrative Committee,” the summary states.

“In the back drop of onslaught of dengue fever during the last few years, it has been earnestly felt that the role of Institute of Public Health requires re-structuring in order to effectively combat infectious diseases, the need for reviewing and revitalising the role of the head of the IPH has been desired,” the summary states.

The summary further states that the process to appoint a dean to the IPH began in 2012. Advertisements for the post had also been sent to Pakistani embassies and consulates for dissemination among the Diaspora, but no applications have been received so far.

The IPH was granted autonomy under the Punjab Medical and Health Institution Health Act, 1998. However, the status was withdrawn in 2002. “The institute can be rejuvenated with the grant of autonomy and undoing its closed cadre structure by giving a chance to the members of teaching faculty to serve in all medical/health institutions of Punjab including IPH,” the summary states.



A senior doctor at the IPH explained the term ‘closed cadre’. “It means that doctors serving at the IPH cannot serve at any other institution. A professor of surgery at the Allama Iqbal Medical College can be transferred to Gujranwala Medical College. However, doctors at the IPH cannot.

This is because we have specialised services. There is just one post of Professor of Maternal and Child Health in the Punjab...and that is at the IPH.

Similarly, there is just one post of Professor of Public Health Policy and Administration and Professor of Epidemiology in the province, [each] both at the IPH. This proposal is foolish and will be challenged in court. You need to have three or more IPHs to end our closed cadre. If that is not done, our people cannot be placed in any other institute.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2014.