Row erupts at LRH over removal of paediatrics dept head.

Byline: Ashfaq Yusufzai

PESHAWAR -- A row has erupted over removal of Dr Musa Kalim from the post of chairman of paediatrics department at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar as dean has asked him to relinquish the position in line with the amended Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015.

Dr Musa Kalim, however, said that he was chairperson in light of the Peshawar High Court's decision and asking him to quit the position would entail legal complications.

The acting dean of LRH on May 20 issued a letter to Dr Musa Kalim, asking him that in accordance with MTIRA 2015 (Amended 2018) Section 17 (1) he was given the option of institutional-based practice (IBP) but he didn't avail it so why should he be allowed to continue as chairman of the department.

He was warned of replacement in case of failure to respond.

The KP MTIRA was enforced by government in 2015 by virtue of which IBP was started in the hospitals where patients were seen on paying consultation fee in the evening.

It was mandatory for the medical director and dean to do IBP whereas the other consultants including chairpersons of the various departments were given options to do it or not.

Dr Musa Kalim refuses to relinquish post, saying matter is sub-judice

However, an amendment was incorporated to MTIRA last year whereby it was made compulsory for the chairpersons of the departments to do IBP.

Dr Musa Kalim has not been in the good books of the government owing to his legal battle with the architects of the MTIRA. He was issued the first notice under the amended law to quit the post or start IBP.

However, he refused to relinquish the post of chairman and informed the administration on May 24 that he had been working on the present position owing to the directives of Peshawar High Court where the matter was sub-judice.

He requested for withdrawal of other order to avoid legal complications.

Section 17 of MTIRA (Amendment) Act, 2018, says: 'Employees, who don't opt for the private practice within the premises of hospitals, clinics...