The fate of the Boards of Management (BoMs) of Nishtar Hospital Multan and all the teaching hospitals in the Punjab hangs in the balance, as their term expired on June 30 amid acute uncertainty and confusion.
It remains a big question mark for the administrations of all the hospitals whether the tenure of these boards will be extended or not. Most of the hospitals were expecting an administrative order to extend the tenure of the boards on Saturday when their term was due to expire. But so far the health department which is supposed to issue this order is keeping mum which made the future of BoMs all the more uncertain.
According to sources, the Punjab health department is under immense pressure by a group of doctors led mainly by the Medical Superintendents (MSs) of the public hospitals is not in favour of BoMs. This group is trying to block the health department from issuing any further extension to BoMs by using its influence at the right quarters.
These MS find themselves powerless in the presence of BoMs, which are mandated to take all the important decision both administrative and financial, hence, MSs are pushing to dismantle them outrightly instead of renewing their term. Reliable sources in health department disclosed that the government has not taken any decision so far.
Meanwhile, the BoM of almost all the teaching hospitals held emergency meetings on Saturday to take important decisions regarding financial and management related issues, some of them were pending for the months. Before the meeting of the boards, the administration of different hospitals in the city were directed to put up the files of doctors' promotions, development work and recruitment of the paramedical staff besides other issues before the 'last' meeting of the BoMs.
The top officials of the Punjab health department are also divided on the issue as to whether BoMs should continue or wrapped up entirely, the sources claimed. Sources revealed that they would take ultimate decision in this regard within first week of July. The option of clipping the wings of BoMs is also under consideration to strengthen the office of MS.
The establishment of BoMs was controversial from the day one. A good number of doctors especially the MS of the hospitals opposed tooth and nail the Punjab health department when it pressed ahead with its decision to give financial and management powers to the BoMs.
Before the advent of BoMs, MS was all in all in his hospital, enjoying both financial and administrative powers. In 1999 the then government created the office of chief executive (CE) to improve the functioning of hospitals and transferred all powers to the CE for running these institutions more effectively. But again, MS and other doctors in administration were not happy over this decision. They always held CE responsible for all the failings of the hospital.
The new PML government then decided to introduce a new set up, led by board of governors (BoGs) in all the teaching hospitals. However, the situation remained unchanged and tussles between the administration and BoGs continued.
It was then the government replaced the BoGs with broad-based board of management (BoM) consisting of three official members, a chairman and six general members from amongst the renowned retired professors of medical colleges, doctors and management experts/retired civil and military officers, distinguished citizens, notable jurists and financial experts.
Meanwhile, Additional Secretary Health (Admn) Sheikh Farooq was not sure when the term of BoMs would expire. He claimed that their term would come to end by July 9 or July 10. However, Principal of Nishtar Medical College Professor Dr Laiq Hussain Siddiqui was sure that the term expired on June 30.