Islamabad: The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), the body mandated to oversee the capital’s hospitals and clinics, is functioning with just 12 employees against a stated requirement of more than 70, has no governing board and is now caught in a leadership dispute that has reached the federal health secretary.
In a letter to Federal Health Secretary Momin Agha, a copy of which has been obtained by this correspondent, acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Rutabah Ikram alleges that her office has been bypassed in licensing and operational matters and that she has been denied the records needed to supervise the authority’s work.
But the Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal denies any interference by the ministry in IHRA’s affairs.
Dr Rutabah Ikram alleges that Director General Health Dr Muhammad Zaeem Zia, formerly IHRA’s CEO, visited the authority several times and addressed matters in a manner that undermined her in front of subordinates.
She says she also faced remarks and threats about legal consequences over a communication from the erstwhile Board of Authority, and pressure from members of the Registration Board over approvals.
The letter says a monthly roster and a requirement to seek approval for licensing schedules two weeks in advance have not been followed consistently, with officers working independently of her office.
It adds that IT equipment and the official vehicle allocated to Dr Zaeem have reportedly not been returned despite verbal requests. His response was not available by the time of filing.
Dr Rutabah Ikram further says she has been informed that some IHRA officers are allegedly being directed by the DG Health to file a complaint against her, potentially alleging harassment or obstruction. She categorically denies any such conduct.
Speaking to this correspondent, health minister Mustafa Kamal said the CEO was ‘incompetent’ and that he had therefore used Dr Zaeem to deal with the situation after the PIMS fire tragedy, adding that he reposed full confidence in his work and integrity.
Officials in the health ministry said Secretary Agha later summoned Dr Rutabah Ikram, heard her account and assured her he would address her concerns, including her working conditions and interference in IHRA’s functioning.
The letter says the problems have persisted for around two months. Dr Rutabah Ikram writes that since she began licensing activity on September 7 at the minister’s direction, she has not received inspection reports or supporting records despite repeated requests.
She says she supervised the three-day assessment of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) but did not receive its data or final report, and that the results were presented to Dr Zaeem and then the minister before she saw them.
She further says the Registration Board meeting on October 28 was moved to the DG Health’s office, its agenda bypassed the CEO Secretariat and IHRA officers were asked to present matters without her approval.
The letter also questions results presented at that meeting, noting that Shifa International Hospital was declared unsuccessful while several other facilities scored higher. Dr Ikram seeks indicator-wise scores and assessors’ observations for an independent review, while stating that she is not challenging the outcome solely because of the hospital’s status. The letter does not establish manipulation.
She adds that her office has been denied access to the licensing portal, CCTV system, IT records and official communication platforms.
The authority’s governance vacuum dates to the August 26 fire at the PIMS nursery, which killed 14 newborns. Several board members resigned afterwards, and the health minister told a Senate committee that many resignations had been received and that the prime minister was responsible for reconstituting the board.
Talking to this correspondent, Mustafa Kamal said the Prime Minister’s Office was going to constitute the board anytime, adding that the ministry had made no recommendation as he knew very few people in Islamabad’s healthcare sector.
Former IHRA CEOs describe the authority as nearly paralysed, citing persistent political and ministry interference and attempts to run it as a ministry department despite its statutory status as an independent regulator.
Dr Rutabah Ikram declined to speak to the media when approached and advised the reporter to seek the health ministry’s response.
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