Posting of seventh health secretary in 18 months raises concerns

During the 18-month tenure of Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the federal health ministry has witnessed its seventh secretary, raising concerns over adhocism and a lack of continuity. Health experts believe the ministry is severely suffering from this issue, as seen in several wings and departments still being run through acting heads.

This trend is particularly evident after the tragic incident at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), where 14 newborn babies were burnt alive, yet the health ministry continues to operate under adhoc arrangements.

A senior ministry officer revealed that the health minister lacks the authority to remove or appoint secretaries, with such decisions being made through the Cabinet Secretariat and Establishment Division. One health expert, speaking anonymously, expressed disbelief at the frequent changes, noting that seven health secretaries have been replaced during the past 18 months.

This includes Nadeem Mahboob, Mirza Nasiruddin Mashood, Waqarul Hasan, Hamed Yaqoob, Aslam Ghauri, and Captain Mahmood, with the current holder being Dr. Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service.

The health expert pointed out that hospital administrators and secretaries often prefer a short-term approach, avoiding decisions with long-term consequences. A senior administrative officer of the ministry explained that the health minister cannot appoint officers in Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 20 and above, suggesting the minister is not to blame for the frequent changes.

Instead, two secretaries were removed during high-level meetings, which were not chaired by the minister, leading to rapid replacements. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal maintained that he accomplished significant work during his tenure, including increasing hospital beds, establishing a trauma center, implementing basic health units, and introducing telemedicine.