Powerful health official repatriated to Balochistan

M. Waqar Bhatti

Islamabad: Despite strong opposition from the caretaker federal health minister Dr. Nadeem Jan, federal secretary of health Iftikhar Shallwani Thursday repatriated former Director General Health Services Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai to his parent department in Balochistan.

Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan was serving as officiating Director General Health Services at National Health Services when he was removed by the federal health secretary Iftikhar Shallwani on November 22, 2023, when he along with the federal health minister were in London to attend a conference. Former health advisors, officials recommend advisory role for healthcare professionals serving abroad

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C), a notification regarding absorption of Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai Senior Medical Officer (BS-18) in Balochistan health department as Director (BS-19) in M/o NHS, RC has been withdrawn for being against the rules and procedures and the officer is accordingly repatriated back to his parent department i.e. Health Department, Government of Balochistan with immediate effect.

Following his removal from the post of Director of General Health Services, an inquiry was also launched against Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan on the directives from the federal secretary of health but its findings were not made public and despite the federal health minister’s efforts, he was not reinstated to the post of Director General Health.

The outgoing health official, Dr. Abdul Baseer tried to best to prevent his repatriation back to Balochistan and wrote letters to the Election Commission of Pakistan as well as the Prime Minister’s Office and demanded inquiry into ‘irregularities’ committed by the federal health secretary but could not prevent himself from being transferred to Balochistan.

Officials in the health ministry said the transfer of Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan was reportedly the main ‘bone of contention’ between the federal health minister and federal health secretary and at the moment, directives of the health minister were not being followed.

Appointment of a senior official, Dr. Razia Fatima as National Coordinator of the Common Management Unit (CMU) for HIV, TB, and Malaria by the Secretary of Health Iftikhar Shallwani also infuriated health minister Dr. Nadeen Jan as he was reportedly not in favour of her appointment and this appointment further widened the gulf between health minister and the secretary health.

The federal health secretary reportedly repatriated even the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the federal health minister Sajid Hussain Shah to the Press Information Department (PID) but later his transfer orders were stayed till the end of the caretaker setup.

“At the moment, the federal health minister has been sidelined by the secretary of health as the minister’s directives are no more being followed while the appointment of Dr. Amir Bilal as Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Medical Education also limited his powers”, a senior health official in the ministry claimed on condition of anonymity.

Despite repeated attempts, both the Federal Secretary of Health Iftikhar Shallwani, and Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan declined to comment on their differences.