The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has made new appointments to two senior administrative positions in Islamabad.
The changes affect the Executive Director and Joint Executive Director posts at PIMS. Both appointments have been made on a temporary basis.
The development comes nearly six weeks after a deadly fire in the hospital’s neonatal unit. The incident resulted in the deaths of 15 newborn babies.
Dr Tanwir Khaliq Given Additional Charge
According to official notifications, Prof Dr Tanwir Khaliq has received additional charge as Executive Director of PIMS.
Dr Khaliq currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University.
He has been assigned the BPS-21 Executive Director position for three months. His appointment will continue until a regular officer takes charge, whichever comes earlier.
The notifications were issued following directives from the Prime Minister’s Office. Dr Mohammad Salman had been serving as Executive Director following the hospital fire.
He has now been sent back to his parent department, the National Institutes of Health.
Dr Salman has been directed to resume his responsibilities at NIH.
New Joint Executive Director Appointed
A separate notification concerns the Joint Executive Director position.
Prof Dr Brig (Retd) Azmat Hayat has received additional charge as Joint Executive Director. He is currently serving as Professor of Electrophysiology at PIMS.
The BPS-20 medical position has also been assigned for three months. The arrangement may end earlier if a regular appointment is made.
Both officers will receive additional remuneration according to applicable government rules.
Appointments Raise Questions Among Doctors
The appointments have also raised questions among some doctors at the hospital. A senior doctor, speaking anonymously, questioned the decision to appoint Dr Tanwir Khaliq.
The doctor claimed Dr Khaliq had retired around six years ago. Questions were also raised about the appointment of Prof Dr Azmat Hayat.
The doctor claimed Dr Hayat has worked at the hospital as a contractual MP-II employee for over a year.
These concerns represent claims from hospital staff and do not establish any irregularity in the appointments.
Appointments Follow Deadly Neonatal Unit Fire
The administrative changes follow the August 26 fire at the hospital’s neonatal unit. The incident initially claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies. A 15th baby later died.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the tragedy following the incident.
Eight hospital officials were subsequently suspended.
The latest appointments place the hospital’s two senior administrative posts under temporary arrangements.
In other news read more about: President Zardari Approves Tamgha-e-Shujaat For PIMS Nurse
Regular appointments are still awaited for the leadership positions at the major public-sector hospital.
