Islamabad: Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan has been given additional charge as federal health secretary for three months, becoming the seventh person to head the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in 18 months amid continuing administrative turmoil.
A notification issued by the Establishment Division said Dr Fakhre Alam, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service presently serving as Secretary Power Division, would hold the additional charge with immediate effect, until the appointment of a regular incumbent or for three months, whichever came earlier.
The appointment replaces Capt (r) Muhammad Mahmood, who had been given look-after charge of the health ministry only days earlier following the suspension of Secretary Health Aslam Ghauri in the aftermath of the PIMS neonatal nursery fire.
Fourteen newborns died after a fire swept through the nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on August 26, prompting an interim inquiry that identified serious lapses in fire safety, emergency preparedness, evacuation arrangements, staffing and coordination.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif subsequently approved the suspension of eight officials, including senior PIMS administrators, and ordered departmental and criminal proceedings.
Aslam Ghauri was suspended even before any inquiry, while Capt (r) Mahmood was assigned the ministry’s look-after charge.
However, Mahmood’s removal within days and the appointment of Dr Fakhre Alam has again underlined the uncertainty surrounding the country’s principal federal health ministry at a time when it is required to deal with institutional failures, regulatory challenges and major national health programmes.
Dr Fakhre Alam has previously served as health secretary and chief secretary Sindh. Officials familiar with his work describe him as a quiet, professional and principled administrator with a reputation for taking decisions without unnecessary publicity.
He is the seventh senior officer to head the health ministry in around 18 months. The frequent changes have affected continuity in policy-making and weakened institutional memory in a ministry already facing a shortage of permanent leadership at several key organisations.
The ministry has seen the removal, transfer or suspension of Nadeem Mahboob, Mirza Nasiruddin Mashood Ahmed, Waqar ul Hasan, Hamed Yaqoob and Aslam Ghauri, followed by the brief look-after arrangement under Capt (r) Mahmood.
The health ministry is currently struggling with an unusual degree of ad hocism, with several major institutions either without permanent heads or being run through additional-charge arrangements.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has for long remained without a permanent chief executive officer and executive directors, while the Directorate General Health has also not had a regular director general for nearly four years. Dr Muhammad Zaeem Zia, an officer on deputation from Gilgit-Baltistan, is holding additional charge as DG Health.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan is also facing a human resource crisis after recruitment processes for posts of assistant directors, deputy directors and drug inspectors were repeatedly delayed or cancelled. The regulator is preparing for a crucial World Health Organisation assessment for maturity level three certification next month.
Several vertical national health programmes, including those dealing with tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, hepatitis C and immunisation, are also facing concerns over the absence of permanent technical leadership and delays in appointments.
Due to a prolonged shortage of doctors, nurses, paramedics and other support staff, several hospitals, basic health units and primary healthcare centres in Islamabad Capital Territory and its peripheral areas are either underutilised or not functioning at their intended capacity, as approved positions remain vacant and fresh recruitment has been delayed.
The failure to strengthen primary and secondary care facilities has shifted patients with routine illnesses and preventable complications to tertiary hospitals, including PIMS and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic, adding to their already heavy patient load.
Health sector officials said the appointment of a secretary with prior experience in the sector could help restore administrative direction, but stressed that lasting improvement would require regular appointments, transparent recruitment and continuity in policy and institutional leadership.
Ends