On the directives of District Co-ordination Officer and Caretaker of District Government Athar Hussain Khan Sial, EDO Health Faisalabad has constituted a two-member committee to probe into the wide scale misuse of powers by few health officers, who are violating health laws for yielding financial benefits.
EDO Health Dr Umer Farooq has appointed, Dr Mazhar Iqbal, APMO (BS-19) as Chairman and Dr Liaquat Ali (BS-18) member on the committee to probe the allegations against Dr Riaz Hussain Chaddar, DDHO Faisalabad and his companions.
EDO health hoped that the enquiry committee would conduct enquiry in a transparent manner and furnish detailed report with their comments within a week for its onward transmission to the higher authorities.
Punjab Allopathic Medical Practitioners Association President, Shabbir Hussain Pasha, talking to newsmen, alleged that Dr Riaz Hussain Chaddar was not only misusing the powers of drug and food inspectors, but also violating the Health Laws and yielding financial benefits.
He also expressed concern over high-ups of the health department, who he said were enjoying hue and cry of public since the last four years.
Shabbir Pasha said that his Association had sent many complaints to Chief Minister Punjab, Chief Secretary Punjab and Secretary Health, that DDHO Faisalabad and his companions had taken the powers of drug and food inspectors into their hands through a mysterious authority letter of Director General Health Punjab, due to which corruption was rampant in the district.
Pasha made it clear that under the Pure Food Ordinance 1960 only Food Inspector, under Drug Act 1976 and Allopathic System (prevention of misuse) Ordinance 1962 only Drug Inspectors and under Medical & Dental Degree Ordinance 1982 only secretary Medical Dental Council Pakistan, Islamabad or any person particularly nominated by them or nominated through a gazette notification, is competent to take action in case of any violation.
While Dr Riaz Hussain Chaddar had set up his own separate state in the Health Department with full authority. He said that the post against which the DDHO under reference is working, is actually the post of scale 19, for which it was compulsory for a doctor that he should be DPH.
The Punjab government (S & GAD) appoints senior doctor for this post according to seniority, while the appointment of Dr Riaz Chaddar against this post is the negation of merit policy as well as transparent management according to the good governance.
He further said the self-styled DDHO's authority has created an environment of harassment in Faisalabad district for making money. DDHO has compelled the people to give bribe by getting baseless criminal cases registered against them without any legal authority, while in all the ordinances under reference there is a proper procedure of taking action against the defaulters.