LAHORE: In what appears to be sheer violation of rules and regulations, a grade 18 doctor is holding additional charge of medical superintendent (MS) of the Government Mian Munshi Hospital, Lahore, for the last three years or so.

Dr Adnan ul Qamar, BPS-18, has been holding the additional charge of the grade 19 MS post at the public hospital in violation of the finance department rules that say: `the arrangements should not be made for a period of less than one month and should not exceed three months; however, it may be extended by another three months with the approval of the next higher authority`.

`As soon as current charge isgiven, a proposal for regular appointment should be initiated andreferred to theDepartmental Promotion Committee within a month,` the rules add.An of ficial privy to the entire process told Dawn that the next competent authority in this regard is the Punjab chief minister.

He says it also alleged that Dr Qamar`s appointment was made in April 2020 without the prior approval of the appointing authority (CM) by the health department, alleging that the former health minister, PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid, has been protecting him and he has been holding the additional charge of the grade 19 postfor the last 37 months or so.

He says that as per rules the MS slot shall be filled on regular basis by appointing a doctor of general cadre in BS-19 or 20.In case of temporary appointment of the MS of a public hospital, a senior doctor serving in BPS-19 or BPS-20 of the hospital concerned should be appointed, the rules say.

He mentioned that when Dr Qamar was given the additional charge of the MS, at least three BPS-19 doctors were serving in the Mian Munshi Hospital, who were ignored.

He said the government was bound to start the process for regular appointment of the MS after completion of second extension for three-month period ofthe additionalcharge, but the rule was also flouted.

The rules say, if no appointment is made within the total six-month period, the post stands abolished, the official said. However, contrary to these mandatory legal requirements,the department kept on extending additional charge of Dr Qamar for the last three years.

As the matter came to the notice of the other competent authorities, the post was advertised but no regular MS was appointed at the hospital was made, allowing Dr Qamar to continue worlcing on look-after basis.

The official says Dr Qamar also had powers of Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) despite the rule that the officer having additional charge of the MS will use limited powers. He says after expiry of the first three-month period of additional charge, legally Dr Qamar was not authorised to exercise the DDO powers, that expired in July 2020. All the powers he exercised after that, including signing financial bills, docu-ments relating to policy decisions and release of payments, stand questionable, the official says.There are also complaints of alleged corruption in the procurement against Dr Qamar, he adds.

When contacted, Dr Adnan confirmed to Dawn he was holding the post of the MS on additional charge for the last three years or so and claimed that he was given the assignment because of having higher qualifications, including MPhil in public policy, Masters in Public Health and was doing his PhD.

He, however, refused to comment on the alleged violations of the rules and regulations.

`The health authorities allowed me to keep the assignment on the basis of my potential and sl(ills`, Dr Qamar argues.