Transfer of DG Health: Health minister, secretary at loggerheads

ISLAMABAD: Disagreements arose between Federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan and Secretary Health Iftikhar Ali Shah Shalwani after removing former DG Health Dr Basir Achakzai and giving charge to Dr Shabana. A new notification has been issued in this regard.

Three days ago, DG Health Dr. Basir Achakzai was removed and an inquiry was ordered against him. On Nov 22, DG Population Dr Shabana Saleem was given the additional charge of DG Health. She is a Grade 20 officer. Now the Ministry of Health has issued a notification on Nov 24 under which Dr Muhammad Ahmed Qazi has been given the additional charge of DG Health. Dr Muhammad Ahmad Qazi is currently holding the post of DG Immunization. He is an officer of the Sindh government and is posted in the Federal Ministry of Health on deputation. He has been given this charge for three months.

The reason for this change is that Dr Shabana Rasool was given the additional charge by Federal Secretary Health Iftikhar Shalwani.

The next day, when the Health Minister returned from abroad, he objected to the removal of Deputy DG Health Dr Basir Achakzai and giving charge to Dr Shabana. According to sources, this matter reached the caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq, after which it was decided to give the charge of DG Health to Dr Muhammad Ahmed Qazi instead of Dr Shabana.

Dr Abdul Basir Khan Achakzai came on deputation from Balochistan in 2008. He was later integrated into the Ministry of Health, but the Establishment Division objected to his integration and directed that he be sent back to the Balochistan government. This is a violation of integration rules, however, this directive was not followed. The health secretary has constituted a fact-finding committee to examine this issue.