Doctors demand probe into alleged illegal cadre changes at Qatar Hospital

KARACHI: Various doctors' associations have demanded an impartial investigation into alleged changes to the cadre and service structure of employees at Qatar Hospital, Karachi, in 2020, claiming that the decisions violated Supreme Court orders and caused grievances among healthcare workers.

The associations have called upon the Sindh government to examine the legality of time-scale awards, promotions and changes in employees' service structures, stressing that these are separate administrative matters governed by distinct rules and regulations.

A time-scale is generally granted to employees where no formal service structure or established promotion mechanism exists. Promotion, however, requires compliance with the approved service structure, sanctioned posts, applicable grades and prescribed length-of-service requirements.

According to allegations, around 56 employees of Qatar Hospital had their cadres or service structures changed during the tenure of then Assistant Medical Superintendent Dr Rashid Siraj and Medical Superintendent Dr Jameel Memon. The associations maintain that the changes were made without lawful authority and in violation of Supreme Court directives that allegedly did not permit such alterations.

Dr Rashid Siraj, who was responsible for matters relating to promotions and placements of paramedical staff, has also come under scrutiny over the decisions reportedly taken in 2020.

The associations said that available employee lists and incomplete documentation had raised serious questions about the process, warranting a detailed examination of the relevant official records.

They urged the Sindh government to constitute a transparent inquiry committee to review the decisions from both legal and administrative perspectives and determine whether the changes were made in accordance with the applicable rules and court orders.

They further demanded that, if violations are established, the officials responsible should be identified and proceeded against under the law.

The associations said an impartial investigation was necessary to protect employees' rights, address the grievances of affected healthcare workers and ensure that appointments, promotions and other service matters at the hospital were handled transparently and strictly in accordance with the law.