Major Overhaul in Health Ministry Amid Corruption Scandal

By M. Waqar Bhatti

Islamabad: In the wake of a recent crackdown within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Ministry of Health has undergone a sweeping overhaul, with numerous officials transferred, terminated, or reassigned in a massive anti-corruption drive.

This shakeup extends across the Ministry of Health, its departments, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), following orders from the Prime Minister’s office.

An official from the National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C) revealed that extensive reshuffles and dismissals were executed on Thursday, with a significant focus on ensuring financial integrity within the ministry.

The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, disclosed that intelligence agencies had compiled a comprehensive list of officials with dubious reputations.

This list was handed over to the Ministry of Health with strict instructions to remove these individuals from key positions.

The list, which spans multiple healthcare institutions and departments, is expected to prompt further purges in a forthcoming second phase.

The Ministry of Health has already issued several notifications detailing the immediate terminations, transfers, and new appointments.

One of the most unexpected moves was the dismissal of Dr. Razia Kaneez Fatima, National Coordinator of the Common Management Unit (CMU) for AIDS, TB, and Malaria. Dr. Razia, who was appointed by the former health secretary Iftikhar Shallwani during the caretaker setup, faced opposition from the caretaker health minister, Dr. Nadeem Jan. Her termination follows scrutiny by intelligence agencies and reports of alleged “questionable activities” concerning the CMU, which manages significant foreign funding from the Global Fund.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health has removed Dr. Ahmed Qazi, acting Director General Health and Project Director of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI), reassigning him to the Sindh Health Department. Dr. Shabana Saleem, a former DG Health, has been appointed in his place and will also serve as Director General Population on an interim basis.

In another key decision, Mir Muhammad Haassan Bullo was relieved of his position as Medical Director of the Federal Government Hospital (FGH) and instructed to immediately relinquish his duties. Meanwhile, Ghazala Bashir Memon, previously Director of Planning and Development, has been promoted to Director General Development with immediate effect.Pakistan Allocates Billions to Combat Hepatitis and Diabetes in 2024-25 Health Budget

Further, four section officers—Abdul Kabir Khalil, Muhammad Ishaq, Imran Ali, and Rizwan Nabi Baloch—along with Deputy Director Irfanullah Khan, were ousted from sensitive posts due to alleged integrity issues.

The shakeup within DRAP is equally significant, with 25 senior officials, including Directors, Additional Directors, Deputy Directors, and Assistant Directors, reassigned to less critical roles. According to the health ministry official, this move was prompted by a list from intelligence agencies identifying around 39 DRAP officials with questionable financial practices, which was subsequently forwarded to the Prime Minister’s office.

However, the official noted that some DRAP officials with strong reputations were also caught up in the broad anti-corruption measures.