Merit mourned: Non-technical officer appointed DG Health Sindh

PMA condemns appointment as violation of court orders, warns of province-wide non-cooperation

IV Report

KARACHI: Echoing the ongoing concerns of senior in-service and retired officers of the health department, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Tuesday formally condemned the appointment of a non-technical bureaucrat as Director General Health Services Sindh.

In a press release issued by its Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the PMA termed the appointment a direct violation of court orders and directives regarding the governance of technical medical positions.

The association stated that it is deeply unfortunate that the Government of Sindh remains indifferent to the serious consequences such a decision holds for public health administration.

"It is highly disheartening for the entire medical fraternity to see senior, experienced and highly qualified medical professionals bypassed in favor of a non-technical administrator," the statement said, adding that placing a bureaucratic officer at the helm of the senior management cadre of doctors undermines professional expertise and compromises health administration.

PMA Demands: The PMA has demanded immediate revocation of the administrative order and prompt appointment of a senior, qualified medical professional to the post of DG Health Sindh. The association warned that if the Sindh government insists on running health services through non-medical bureaucrats, medical professionals across the province will have no choice but to resign and hand over clinical and operational responsibilities to the bureaucracy.

In a hard-hitting remark, the PMA also urged the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to denotify all medical colleges in the country, saying the government's actions signal that trained medical professionals are no longer valued or required.

The PMA warned that if the appointment is not reversed swiftly, the medical community will initiate a wider campaign of administrative non-cooperation across the province.

Meanwhile, while this scribe has approached the department's senior officials concerned for the government's version on the controversial notification, early reaction began emerging on September 21.

A senior health officer told this reporter: "DG Health, an essential technical post of the Health Department, is snatched from technical persons, doctors, and given to a CSS group officer. Health centres are already given to PPHI, what else is remaining in the health department? MSs and Medical Officers should also be given to the CSS group, like ACs and DCs. All doctors of the Health Department should voluntarily quit from such posts. Very sad affairs of the Health Department."

That one reaction is now echoing across the department.

In a latest development, a group of young doctors held a meeting today and declared that after a fruitful discussion on the subject, they have decided to coordinate with other government medical employees for a joint campaign against what they termed as forceful imposition of non-concerned and incompetent officers on higher technical and other posts in the health sector.

-- AI illustrations

--IV images, photos

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KU scientists unlock Red Sindhi cattle genome

Image
Breakthrough linked to economic gains, disease resistance and modern livestock breeding By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Scientists at the University of Karachi have successfully completed the whole genome sequencing of Red Sindhi cattle, a milestone they say could significantly boost Pakistan’s livestock economy and strengthen disease control efforts. The researchers describe the breakthrough as a “transformational step” toward modernising the country’s livestock sector through genomic science, opening new avenues for precision breeding, enhanced productivity, and improved resistance to diseases. The work, led by the Dr A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) , also included genomic characterisation of the Lumpy Skin Disease virus, enabling deeper insights into host–pathogen interactions and infection control strategies. The project was carried out under the Sindh Higher Education Commission’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programme by Dr Roohi Kanwal, an a...
Read more

Budget lacks medium-term brain, power relief, tax equity: Experts

Image
KU AERC seminar says Budget 2026-27 focuses on numbers, not on export competitiveness, tax equity, or long-term planning IV Report KARACHI: The University of Karachi’s Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) concluded that Budget 2026-27 is missing key structural links to growth, energy affordability, and tax reform, during its Budget Insight 2026-27 seminar held Monday. Speakers said the budget reads as an annual accounts statement, without the medium-term policy backbone needed to address Pakistan’s core economic constraints. Former State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Ishrat Husain said a budget must operate within a medium-term policy framework, not as merely an account of income and expenditure. Citing the 2010-11 NFC Award, he noted it had set a target to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 15% within five years. Fifteen years later, it remains around 11 percent, he said, adding that setting targets alone is insufficient without practical measures and continuous monitoring. ...
Read more

KU pushes for alumni giving, with transparency and target

Image
VC says donors need clear sector-wise plans and accountability to strengthen KU’s academic and research work IV Report KARACHI: University of Karachi leadership has outlined new expectations for alumni and donor support, calling for clear sector-wise planning and transparent utilisation of contributions to strengthen KU's academic and research work. They were speaking at the inauguration of a new digital lab at the Department of Mass Communication on Tuesday. The lab, equipped with 25 modern laptops, was established with financial and technical support from the Orange Tree Foundation (OTF) for final-year students. Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Tufail Jokhio said alumni residing abroad are keen to contribute to their alma mater, but accountability must come first. “It is essential to clearly inform them about the specific sectors and purposes for which their assistance will be utilised,” Dr Tufail said. “Equally important is to assure them that their contribut...
Read more