The Sindh Doctors’ Association on Monday expressed strong reservations against the appointment of a professor from the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) as the director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
In a statement, the president of the association Dr Naeem Khan said that the director of JPMC should be from among the university’s own staff rather than from JSMU which has no affiliation with JPMC.
According to Naeem, the Supreme Court had entrusted NICVD, NICH and JPMC back to the federal government, after these hospitals had earlier fallen into the Sindh government’s jurisdiction after the 18th amendment.
However, according to the statement, even though two and a half years had elapsed, the federal government had failed to take control of the establishments.
As a result of this inaction, the doctor’s association, while meeting with newly appointed acting Executive Director Professor Dr Tariq Mahmood, earnestly requested him to reconsider his decision for not further willing to continue as Executive Director of JPMC.
“In the given circumstances, the doctor’s association thinks that he is the most appropriate person to run the hospital appropriately and in a smooth manner,” the statement read.
The statement further clarified: “In the light of the Supreme Court’s order, it was directed to JSMU to arrange an alternative in six month’s period (detail judgement para 34 in 125/K).
“The association also disagreed with the proposal of Dr Tariq Mahmood to hire post fellows on stipend and consultants on a contract basis. He was reminded that more than 300 medical officers of the Sindh government are being posted at JPMC based on deputation or allowed to work. Therefore, it is neither necessary nor appropriate to further appoint doctors in the presence of already working faculty members and medical officers of the Sindh government.”
The statement also said that the executive director was also asked to play his role in “expediting the process of long-pending cadre promotions of JPMC employees against the vacant posts of Associate and Assistant Professors.”
