Giving Acting Charge to Juniors and Appointing Non-Doctors to Technical Posts in Balochistan Health Department Is Unacceptable in Any Way: PMA

QUETTA (Daily Qudrat) – An introductory and consultative meeting of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan was held on Sunday at the RBC Center Quetta under the chairmanship of President Dr. Naeem Zarkoon. The meeting was attended by PMA Balochistan, YDA Balochistan, PMA Quetta Zone, senior members, and representatives of the doctors’ community. The meeting began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, after which participants introduced themselves and held detailed consultations on various organizational and professional matters.

The meeting appreciated the services of the previous cabinet of PMA Balochistan and discussed the organization’s future course of action and scope. It was agreed that PMA Balochistan should have its own formal constitution that clearly defines the organization’s powers, responsibilities, and scope.

Expressing concern over the short time given by the Health Department for doctors’ ACRs, it was said that completing ACRs within one week in Balochistan’s current circumstances is practically difficult. A demand was made that the condition of the Deputy Commissioner’s signature on ACRs be abolished and this authority be given to the relevant Divisional Director Health or DHO.

The meeting also expressed serious concern over the appointment of non-doctors to doctors’ technical posts, giving acting charge of senior positions to junior officers, and giving some officers multiple additional or look-after charges, and demanded that merit, seniority, and relevant professional competence be ensured in appointments.

Concern was also expressed over the service structure of doctors in the specialist cadre. Participants said that many specialist doctors, after being recruited at Grade 18, remain in the same grade due to the absence of an appropriate promotion structure, so a clear and effective service structure and promotion system should be devised for them.

The meeting welcomed the introduction of the semi-autonomous body model for civil and BMC by the Provincial Assembly and demanded its immediate implementation. Concern was also expressed over the non-implementation of the Chief Minister Balochistan’s promise to restore suspended doctors and the dismissal of 25 Lady Medical Officers on the basis of flawed information, which risks creating a trust deficit between the Health Department and doctors.

The meeting also expressed concern over the security of doctors performing duties in peripheral areas and demanded effective measures for their protection. Deep concern was also expressed over the alleged illegal occupation of residential quarters and residential land allocated for the doctors’ community by unrelated persons. A committee was formed to review the situation of residential properties and land in the name of doctors in Quetta and other parts of the province, which will review the facts and records and present its recommendations. Similarly, a committee was also formed to review the details and current situation of properties owned by PMA Balochistan and organizational funds.

The meeting also formed relevant committees for other important organizational matters, including the empowerment of the Health Directorate, which will present their recommendations at the next meeting.

At the end of the meeting, while appreciating the performance of Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, participants said that he is a capable, dynamic, and reform-serious minister. His steps for establishing a new state-of-the-art trauma center, launching an air ambulance service, and other public welfare projects are commendable. However, despite these positive steps, further improvement and fundamental reforms are needed in the Health Department. PMA Balochistan expressed hope that the Provincial Health Minister, recognizing the doctors’ community as an important stakeholder in the health system, will take more effective steps to resolve doctors’ service structure, professional issues, security, and other legitimate demands on a priority basis.