Ayub Medical Teaching Institution functioning without top managers

ABBOTTABAD: The government has failed to implement the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act in true spirit as Ayub Medical Teaching Institution comprising Ayub Medical College and Ayub Teaching Hospital have been running on ad hoc basis for last one year.

All three top managerial posts, including medical director, hospital director and dean Ayub Medical College have not been filled for the last one year.

The post of medical director has been vacant after the retirement of Dr Salim Afzal in December 2017.

The Board of Directors (BoG) first appointed Dr Raza Muhammad Khan as medical director on ad hoc basis till October 2018 and then Dr Ahsan Aurangzeb.

Retired Major Siddique-ur-Rehman spent more than a year as hospital director on ad hoc basis from March 2015 to May 2016.

Retired Brigadier Ajmal, who was appointed as regular hospital director in May 2016, failed to complete his term and resigned in May 2018.

Since then, three hospital directors were tried on ad hoc basis, including Dr Khyal Afridi, Dr Athar Lodhi and Dr Umer Farooq.

Dr Umer Farooq was given additional charge as he serving as dean of the Ayub Medical College after the removal of Dr Athar Lodhi. An inquiry was also initiated against Dr Athar Lodhi.

The post of the college dean, which was vacant after the resignation of Dr Aziz-un-Nisa in May 2018, has still not been filled.

Initially, Dr Salma Kundi was appointed as dean for 10 months, followed by Dr Umer Farooq, who is also looking after the affairs of the hospital director.

Sources in the AMI told The News that the BoG may give some position to retired Major Siddique-ur-Rehman in the future. He isn’t holding any formal position in the AMI, but has been involved in the hospital affairs unofficially.

The Anti-Corruption Department, Abbottabad Circle has initiated an inquiry against him for his appointment as BoG secretary in 2016 and served a notice on the institution.

PML-N Member Provincial Assembly Aurangzeb Nalotha has told the provincial assembly that an inquiry committee has recommended recovery of Rs15 million from the said officer.

Siddique-ur-Rehman was appointed BoG secretary, AMI though he had not applied for the post.

An inquiry committee termed the decision unlawful and recommended termination of the secretary besides recovery of the amount taken by him. He was later terminated but no recovery was made from him.