The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has decided to appoint a new director-general health services in violation of the rules, reports in the local media have informed.
According to the rules, such postings can only be made from a panel of 10 senior most people.
Sources shared that in this case, the the health minister has suggested transfer of director general health and posting of a junior doctor as his placement. They revealed said that a summary sent to the chief minister proposed the transfer of incumbent DG Health Dr Mohammad Ayub Rose and appointment of Dr Arshad Ahmad Khan, currently director-general Provincial Health Services Academy (PHSA), Peshawar, as his replacement.
Meanwhile, Dr Ayub, a BPS-20 management cadre, will report to the DG health office for further posting.
However, this move is in violation of rules which state that a panel of 10 senior most BPS-20 officers of management cadre in the health department have the authority to appoint DG health services.
“In this case, a doctor ranked on 18th position on seniority list has been proposed to be offered the top slot,” the sources said.
Moreso, the Dr Ayub who was appointed on November 21, 2017, is yet to complete his lawful tenure resulting in not only the violation of rules but also of merit.
Dr Ayub has to his credit research papers on the prevalence of diseases and other health problems as well as working on senior positions in the UN agencies. He has also been instrumental in the reforms process of the government but his proposed replacement has sent a wave of resentment among the staff, which fears similar treatment.
The summary sent by health minister says that the present DG health hasn’t completed his normal tenure on the post but the health minister has desired to replace him with another doctor of management cadre.
The summary, yet to be accorded approval by the government, states that Dr Arshad Ahmed working as DG PHSA was on the 18th position on seniority list since February 15, 2018 but he is the most suitable officer for the post of DG health services, KP and his appointment is in favour of the public.
The minister has pointed out that in line with schedule-III of KP Government Rules of Business 1985, the postings and transfers of the heads of the attached departments and other officers in BPS-19 and above in all departments would be made with the approval of the chief minister.
