LARKANA:Instead of appointing proper Director (Finance, Accounts and Administration) at Teaching Hospitals, the provincial health department secretary has proposed to assign additional charge of the posts to the relevant Vice Chancellors of Liaquat University of Medical and Health sciences Jamshoro and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) till the regular appointment of Director (Finance).
In this regard Health Secretary has sent a summary to the Chief Secretary, Sindh, which has become viral on social media proposing that the charge of the post be also additionally assigned to the VC of SMBBMU, Larkana for Chandka Medical College Hospital till the regular appointment is made. The summary has also been signed by the Sindh health and population welfare minister on 3rd March, 2023.
Giving hollow justification, the summary said that during the hearing of CP No. 1538 of 2021, the Sindh High Court, Sukkur Bench conveyed the directives on 3rd March 2023 through focal person Dr. Sikander Memon, Chief Technical Officer (BS-19), to assign the additional charge of the post of Director (Admin, Accounts and Development) in Teaching Hospitals in Hyderabad and Larkana to their respective VCs. Accordingly, in compliance with the Court, Abdul Sattar Jatoi, an BS-19 officer of the Development Wing presently posted as Director (Admin, Accounts and Development) LUMHS has been directed to report to the Development Wing of the Health Department. However, “the VC of Universities are being dealt with by the Universities and Board Department, Government of Sindh”.
Independent analysts in this connection alleged that Larkana university is already facing mismanagement, illegal appointments and political involvement issues and is still under construction and if financial and other charges are given to it then things at Chandka Hospital will never improve but will become further complicated for which only poor patients’s problems will be multiplied.
VCs have already been made head of the teaching hospitals management boards but the things are still crumbling. These analysts said that LUMHS is a prestigious institution which has grown to a better level and it has done a remarkable job for the ailing masses by establishing good diagnostic laboratories but SMBBMU has so far failed to deliver for the benefit of the inflation-ridden people. It was further alleged that even SMBBMU VC was appointed on a political basis after killing merit.
These analysts further said that the Finance Directors must be appointed on merit to establish good governance ignoring political appointments and influence. Otherwise the working of teaching hospitals will never improve and the worst affected will be the poverty-stricken masses who will continue to suffer.