Medical
KEMU still without a permanent VC
The government has failed to appoint a permanent vice chancellor (VC) for the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) since it was granted university status four years ago, Daily Times has learnt. In 2006 – when the college was granted university status – Dr Mumtaz Hassan was made the acting VC, followed by Professor Zafarullah Khan, who was again not given a permanent posting. In November 2008, the Health Department had advertised the post in the press and invited “high class professionals” to apply for it. Interestingly, the search committee formed to scrutinise candidates has not conducted a single interview despite the lapse of such a significant period since the advertisement was first made. Senior doctors and health experts believe that the practice keeps the VC in limbo, consequently affecting his performance. They said that a permanent VC did not live in fear of losing his job and hence took administrative decisions in the better interest of the institution. Last year, the government had moved to revert KEMU’s university status, but stopped after facing resistance from different quarters. Sources in the administration said that the government’s failure to revert its university status had resulted in it (government) now neglecting the country’s most prestigious and oldest medical institution. Chief Minister’s Task Force on Health Chairman Dr Saeed Elahi told Daily Times that a search committee consisting of “prominent persons” had been made and it would soon start interviewing candidates for the post.
Seven-day medical symposium concludes
Medical experts at a symposium on Sunday stated that the government should ensure the Constant Medical Education (CME) of doctors while making the medical programs mandatory by forming an Accreditation Council with immediate effect.
This was demanded at the concluding session of a seven-day medical symposium organized at JPMC. Executive Director JPMC, Professor Tasneem Ahsan, Chairman Symposium Committee, Professor Gulam
Mehboob, Dr Tasneem Batt, Dr Raza, Dr Zaigum Ali and other medical experts also attended the program.
Informing about the proceedings of program Symposium Committee Secretary, Professor Tariq Mehmood informed that the seven-day symposium was attended by 6000 doctors and 35 different sessions were held in the program. “Eighty eight medical experts delivered speeches on different diseases and techniques on how to treat those, while 228 research papers were also presented”, he added.
He said that 49 doctors were awarded gold medals and appreciation certificates for their research papers. The doctors were also provided with 24-hour medical education certificates while a medical poster designing exhibition was also organized in the program.
Source: The News Monday, February 22, 2010
Young doctors to join hike
The twin cities wing of the Young Doctors Association has decided to participate in a hike titled ‘Fight against corruption’ being organised by Pakistan Green Task Force in collaboration with the hiking club of Rawalpindi Medical College today (Sunday).
“During the hike, we would register our protest against the US and whatsoever being done with our sister Dr Aafia Siddiqui,” said YDA Rawalpindi President Dr Muhammad Haroon while talking to ‘The News’ adding the Young Doctors Association has already started a series of protests in support of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
The first massive protest was staged in Lahore. Dr Aafia Siddiqui did MBBS from QMC, Bahawalpur, MD from USA and PhD Nuclear Medicine from USA.
Dr Haroon said that all the allegations levelled against her are false and young doctors condemn her imprisonment and demand the government authorities to bring her back. “Young doctors from all hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will participate in the walk,” he said.
President YDA Rawalpindi Dr Haroon and President YDA Islamabad Dr Sajid will lead young doctors who would be displaying banners and posters to express their support for Dr Aafia Siddiqui. President Medical Students Wing YDA Shahid will lead the students in the hike.
Green Task Force has organized the walk and funds for the hike. The walk will start at 10 a.m. on Track 5 Margallah Hills, about 1.7 kilometre distance and end at Monaal, Pir Sohawa where closing ceremony will be held. Dr Afia’s sister Fouzia Siddiqui and her cousin Noureen are expected to participate.
Source : The News Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fake doctors hiring case Action against big guns yet to be initiated
RAWALPINDI, Feb 20: The Punjab government has not yet initiated action against the authorities responsible for hiring doctors having fake MBBS degrees at the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi though the inquiry report has already been submitted to the office of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, it has been learnt.
Official sources close to the inquiry conducted by Farrukh Naveed, Chairman Task Force Administrative Efficiency Punjab, told Dawn that the inquiry officer had held high officials in the health department, Rawalpindi Medical College, DHQ and Holy Family hospitals responsible for appointing the fake doctors as medical officers and four certified doctors in violation of rules and regulations. The sources said the inquiry completed two months back had gone beyond the arrested medical superintendent of DHQ hospital, Dr Khalid Malik, while fixing responsibility for appointing three brothers – Syed Allaudin, Syed Naseeruddin and Syed Salahuddin – in the DHQ hospital despite the fact they had fake medical degrees from Afghanistan.
The official close to the inquiry said though the government had taken initial steps on the recommendations of the inquiry report but a fully-fledged action was yet to be initiated against the higher health authorities.
The inquiry team while investigating the induction of the three brothers; nurse Riffat Shaheen as female medical officer and hiring of four doctors – Mobeen Akhtar, Maryam Waqar, Romana Malik and Qasim Ali – both at the DHQ hospital and HFH in violation of rules and regulations had questioned the position of RMC principal and some high officers in the health department in Lahore.
It has been learnt that the inquiry report had held the view that how it was possible for a medical superintendent to first hire fake doctors on a regular basis and then get them regularised when the power of drawing and dispensing officer was with the RMC principal and the final approval for the regular appointments were made by the health department in Lahore.
Though the Anti-corruption Establishment Rawalpindi has sent the case of the MS, his deputy Dr Bilal Arshad, hospital accountant Asif Ayub, Director Finance for Allied Hospitals Mohammad Rasheed, the three brothers, head clerk DHQ Malik Irfan, his wife and nurse Riffat Shaheen and three lady doctors Mobeen Akhtar, Maryam Waqar and Romana Malik to the court, no legal action has been initiated regarding the appointment of Dr Akhtar Ali.
When contacted, the inquiry officer, Farrukh Naveed said he had sent the report to the office of the chief minister for further action.
Source: Dawn Sunday, 21 Feb, 2010
