Handing over charge: JPMC appoints new executive director

KARACHI:

With the transfer of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) executive director Professor Tasnim Ahsan to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, Dr Anisuddin Bhatti has been appointed the new head of the hospital.

According to sources, Prof Ahsan, who was at JPMC for over four years, will retire from service on February 14. The charge of the hospital was handed over to joint executive director Dr Seemin Jamali for a few hours before the Sindh government appointed Dr Bhatti to the post.

Two years ago, Dr Bhatti became the head of the hospital for a few days but handed the charge over to Prof Ahsan in accordance with court orders. “The appointment of Dr Bhatti has been made for political reasons,” claimed sources. “He was fourth in seniority but the health department appointed him on the recommendation of political figures. The most senior JPMC doctor is Professor Shireen Bhutta, while Dr Jamali was eligible from the administrative side.”

On Tuesday, there were rumours that Dr Jamali, who is also the in-charge of the emergency ward, had been removed from her current position. However, she clarified that this was untrue.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2015.