The hospital director of Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) is unlikely to receive an extension for another five-year term as authorities await the findings of inquiries into alleged mismanagement and poor patient care. Sources say the Board of Governors (BoG) has decided to advertise the post instead of retaining the current director.
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On December 17, Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi ordered the immediate termination of the hospital director and suspension of the head of the paediatric emergency department after visiting LRH. He also issued a charge-sheet against the hospital administration over reported lapses.
However, the chief minister’s directives were not implemented within the stipulated time. The BoG initiated two separate inquiries, one focusing on the hospital director’s role in mismanagement and the other examining the situation in the paediatric emergency department.
Last week, BoG chairman Dr Nausherwan Burki stated that both inquiries had been completed but were under review. Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan later confirmed that no formal outcome had yet been announced.
Sources within LRH said it was initially expected that the director would be granted an extension, but the BoG opted to advertise the position instead. The director’s current tenure is set to expire on December 31.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act, 2015, grants administrative and financial autonomy to government medical institutions through BoGs. These boards have the authority to appoint senior officials, including hospital directors.
Under the law, the health department no longer exercises direct control over MTIs, while BoG members are appointed from the private sector. The chief minister retains the power to remove BoG members but employee terminations require due process.
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Sources said past attempts to remove officials without inquiries often resulted in court stay orders. To avoid legal complications, the BoG pursued inquiries before taking action.
According to sources, the chief minister is unlikely to insist on enforcement of his earlier directives following the BoG’s decision. The BoG is expected to issue a warning to the head of the paediatric emergency department, citing excessive workload as a contributing factor to mismanagement.