Another Health Task Force, Nepotism Outcry and PM Imran Khan's Cousin Nosherwan Barki
PM Khan's cousin again has been assigned charge of task force constituted to bring health reforms
(WebDesk/DunyaNews) – PTI led government after taking the charge of the government offices, announced a number of task forces to bring reforms in all the weaken sectors.
To introduce the reforms in health sector, a 13 member task force has been formed on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
PM IMran Khan appointed his cousin Prof. Dr. Nosherwan Adil again the head of the task force constituted on health reforms. Photo: File
Also Read: Report: A hospital and 112 beds is all PTI delivered in health in its tenure in KP
It is being said that the task force comprises of medical and health experts from private and public sectors. To make an announcement, a notification has been issued by the government. According to the notification, Prof. Dr. Nosherwan Barki – Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cousin has been once again bestowed with the command of the task force.
Prof. Dr. Nosherwan Barki served as the incharge of the body constituted to introduce health reforms which later turned into debacles - in the government hospitals and health sector in PTI led former government of Khyber Pakhtun Kha.
The US resident Professor Dr. Nosherwan Barki - PM Khan’s cousin was associated with a US University for a brief period and also served as the memeber of board of governors of Shaukat Khanaum Hospital.
Dr. Nosherwan Barki served as the incharge of the body constituted to introduce health reforms in KP. Photo: Facebook
He previously had a history of being the incharge of the body constituted to introduce health reforms which later turned into debacles - in the government hospitals and health sector in PTI led former government of Khyber Pakhtun Kha.
After taking the charge post elections 2013, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf declared emergency in health sector along with education though the outcomes were quite disappointing. Except an establishment of a 40-bed hospital in Abbottabad, there was no project in the name of PTI. According to five year performance report of health in KP, fifteen hospitals and the health care centers were supposed to be established which would increase 2085 beds in Khyber Pakhtun Kha. Former government of PTI led by the former Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak admitted in their five year performance report of health, no major differences have been brought in the expansion of the health care facilities in KPK.
A view of the government hospital in KP. Photo: File
Also Read: PTI Chief admits no change in KP health department despite 4.5 years
CJP said that Dr. Nosherwan Barki - PM Khan’s cousin is responsible for the decline of health sector in KP, who spends most of his time outside the country. He also lashed out at the PTI government and questioned former KP’s government priorities, condemnable nepotism and poor delivery of services in five years of rule despite tall claims of health reforms.
A case was pending in the Supreme Court over the worst performance of PTI led government in the health sector. In the hearing of the same case regarding the health’s deteriorated conditions and hospitals deprived of basic health facilities in KP, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar expressed a sheer displease over the worsen health affairs in KP. He reprimanded PM Khan’s cousin and then head of the board of governors of health reforms, Nosherwan Barki in the hearing of the case last month. CJP said that he himself had seen the pathetic situation of hospitals and poor health facilities. During his visit to the hospitals of KP, he has seen an empty kettle in the operation theatre of the Khyber Teaching Hospital and Trauma Center of Lady Reading Hospital is even not operational. He remarked Nosherwan Barki, PM Khan’s cousin is responsible for the decline of health sector in KP, who spends most of his time outside the country.
He also lashed out to the PTI government and questioned former KP’s government priorities, condemnable nepotism and poor delivery of services in five years of rule despite tall claims of health reforms.
Also Read: 3500 children died in KP hospitals in three months: report
Nosherwan Barki was appointed as the chairman of board of governors of Lady Reading Hospital and Peshawar Institute of Cardiology at the same time in former fovernment of PTI in KP.
During the hearing of the same case, a letter was written to the CJP by the young doctors association of KP. They complained serious violations of the regulations during the election of board of governors in KP. Instead of appointing the officials on merit - favorite persons were given the chosen posts in the board of governors which was introduced to bring reforms in the government hospital. The letter further pointed out the appointment of Imran Khan’s relative Nosherwan Barki as the chairman of board of governors of Lady Reading Hospital and Peshawar Institute of Cardiology at the same time.
Dr. Nosherwan Barki is chairing a meeting. Photo: Facebook
The element of nepotism cannot be negated; also the formation of the task force to introduce health reforms in the health sector on federal level is itself a controversial matter and is contradicted with the 18th amendment introduced in the constitution after which provincial government are given autonomy to provide their people with best of the facilities and services in health and others mentioned departments. Task force does not have any representation from provincial bodies even also not from public sector except a woman member whose appointment at the moment is also controversial. The previous BOGs were dismissed by the Supreme Court over the misappropriations. It is imperative to analyse the basis of the constitution of the body, the foundation on which the body will take decisions and implement them as the body has no legislative worth as health is solely a provincial affair, said the senior analyst Iftikhar Firdous while expressing his views in Dunya News Program Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath.
Formation of the task force to introduce health reforms in the health sector on federal level is a controversial matter and is contradicted with the 18th amendment introduced in the constitution after which provincial government are given autonomy to provide their people with best of the facilities and services in health.
He futher said that the clashes between the young doctor’s association and Insaf doctor’s forum which was ran by the PTI Supporters and party workers – have remained been ignited between the two groups. After the dissolution of the BOG ordered by the Supreme Court, the health secretary specifically dismissed all those members of young doctors who had filed the case against PTI and was categorically instructed to not give them any opportunity anywhere in utter vengeance. Decisions are being taken solely on the political basis.
Imran Khan and former CM KPK Pervaiz Khattak at the launch of Insaf Sehat Card. Photo: File
Firdous said that Barki’s competence is altogether a different debate but all the reforms has had been introduced were halted by the Supreme Court as they concluded in debacles. It is significant to analyze that the reforms that had been tend to introduce in the local system by a foreign qualified individual can support the local infrastructure. Political influence in running the affairs brought disorder and muddle. It is poignant that PTI government under the political pressures discredited the merit and punished those who had their hands in making health card a better and prospectus project in the reign of PTI government. PTI’s only worth to mention credit in health sector is Insaf Sehat Card, which PTI led government is now expecting to distribute in rest of the country.
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Translated and edited by Mehreen Fatima
