Islamabad: Amendments are being proposed to laws governing key health institutions, the appointment process at the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) and procurement decisions involving a blood centre and isolation hospital, which could seriously undermine institutional autonomy, facilitate appointments of favoured individuals and restrict fair competition in public contracts, Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has warned.
The anti-corruption watchdog has sought an inquiry into the allegations, saying the proposed legal changes, appointments and procurement decisions should be examined to ensure transparency, merit, accountability and institutional independence in the health sector.
TIP said that, after reviewing the complaint and supporting documents, the allegations appeared prima facie credible and warranted further examination.
In a letter to Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Transparency International Pakistan said it had received a complaint alleging “tailor made amendments, regulatory interference and procurement irregularities” by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSR&C).
According to the complaint, the ministry is pursuing amendments to the Health Services Academy Act 2018 that could curtail the institution’s autonomy and expand executive control over appointments and governance matters, including powers relating to the office of the vice chancellor.
The complaint further alleges that the ministry has proposed the deletion of Section 13(b) of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority Act 2018, a provision that currently bars serving government officials from being appointed chief executive officer of the regulator.
The complainant argues that the proposed amendment would remove a key safeguard designed to protect the regulator’s independence and could pave the way for the appointment of a serving government officer as its permanent chief executive.
The complaint refers to the appointment of Dr Muhammad Zaeem Zia, a serving government officer, as acting CEO of IHRA in April this year.
Documents attached to the complaint show that he was assigned additional charge of the position for three months or until the appointment of a regular incumbent through a competitive process.
The complainant maintains that the IHRA Board had already completed the shortlisting of candidates for interviews for the regular CEO position several months earlier.
Supporting documents attached to the complaint include correspondence from the Prime Minister’s Office seeking details of the CEO recruitment process, including the advertisement, shortlisting procedure, interview records, marks sheets, board approvals and relevant rules governing the appointment.
The complaint argues that removing the legal restriction on serving government officers could weaken the regulator’s independence and increase executive influence over an authority established to oversee healthcare services in Islamabad.
In its observations, Transparency International Pakistan stated that any legislative amendments aimed at facilitating the appointment of pre-selected individuals would be contrary to the principles of transparency, institutional autonomy and merit-based recruitment.
The complaint also questions a tender issued for outsourcing the Regional Blood Centre and a 50-bed isolation hospital. According to the complainant, the eligibility criteria required bidders to have prior experience managing three hospitals with a combined capacity of at least 300 beds, along with specified blood transfusion volumes.
The complainant alleges that these conditions were overly restrictive and effectively left only one organisation, Indus Hospital, in a position to qualify for the contract.
Transparency International Pakistan said the allegations should be examined to determine whether the procurement conditions were restrictive and inconsistent with the principles of transparency, equal opportunity and value for money in public procurement.
It added that if the allegations are substantiated, the procurement process could amount to misprocurement.
In its recommendations, TIP urged the federal health minister to investigate the allegations and take action in accordance with applicable laws and rules if any wrongdoing is established.
The organisation clarified that it was not itself the complainant but was acting as a whistleblower in the public interest and forwarding the matter under its mandate to promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
Officials of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination could not immediately be reached for comment on the allegations contained in the complaint and TIP’s recommendations.
Ends