Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 21: Doctors in the Valley have demanded that heads of the Health Department and Medical Education, which are at present held by Incharge persons, should be selected by an expert panel rather than by a minister who picks favorites.
President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan today in a statement said it is a matter of serious concern that two crucial departments of health and medical education are headless and are run on stopgap arrangement.
Department of health is being run by an ineligible in charge director Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman despite high court directions to appoint a permanent director, while Principal Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Rafiq Pampori was given extension after his retirement in gross violation to recruitment rules and Government order of blanket ban on extension.
Dr Hassan said this temporary arrangement blocks the opportunity among aspirants with new ideas and leads to stagnation.
“This unhealthy trend of adhocism is responsible for healthcare mess and adversely affects efficiency of two highly sensitive departments and patient care. This temporary arrangement suits political bosses as they can pick favourites who will obey their diktat and will be at their beck and call,” he said.
He said these in charge favorite officials in turn spend their whole time in appeasing their masters who help them to retain their positions.