LARKANA: Dr Ruth Pfau Leprosy Center of Larkana is being run by a general cadre doctor since January 2018 in violation of apex court’s order.
This post is allocated for a specialist cadre doctor. Over 200 poor patients daily arrive in OPD to get treatment. Dr. Nuzhat Seema Bhatti was directed by Dr. Mohammad Akhalq Khan, Director General, Health Services, Sindh, Hyderabad, to continue looking after the Center when Savio Pereira, Director (HR), Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre, Karachi, wrote on January 15, 2018, to Sindh Health Secretary that Dr. Nuzhat Seema Bhatti, Sr WMO (BS-19), is working in the Leprosy Center since 1998. She is not only a qualified dermatologist, but she has also gained experience both in field and research work of Larkana region and, in benefit of poor patients, she should be allowed to continue as Incharge.
But on 26th January, the DG Health Services bypassed all rules & regulations including court directions and allowed junior general cadre Dr. Farooq Ahmed Shaikh, Senior Medical Officer BPS-18, to look after the charge as Incharge of the Center in violation of establishing good governance and merit. Previously, Dr. Farooq was working as DDO (HRD) at District Health Office, Larkana. Previously Dr. Farooq Rahman Soomro was leading the center who has recently retired. He said the claimed to be only Leprosy specialist in Sindh.
Health Department is claiming that it has established merit in the province but this incident shows that still their are black sheep who want to adjust their near & dear ones ignoring law. Will the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali personally look into the matter and resolve it in the interest of justice.