Health Secretary’s Gujrat visit triggers major health shake-up

GUJRAT: A high-level visit by Punjab Secretary for Health and Population Nadia Saqib to Gujrat triggered a major administrative shake-up, resulting in the transfer of senior health officials and a newly appointed medical superintendent, while the office of a patients welfare association at Civil Hospital Jalalpur Jattan was sealed.

The secretary visited Gujrat to review the Community Health Inspectors (CHI) programme and attended a training workshop for field staff. Addressing community health inspectors, she stressed the importance of improving primary healthcare services, community engagement and effective field monitoring.

The workshop was attended by Deputy Director Khalid Sharif, Additional Secretary (Technical) Dr Zohaib Hassan, Project Director PFPP Captain Usman and Additional Director PIU Dr Farrukh Amin.

During the visit, Nadia Saqib also inspected Civil Hospital Jalalpur Jattan to review administrative affairs and healthcare services.

According to well-placed sources, the secretary expressed serious displeasure after learning that the recent appointment of Dr Shehzad Gul as Medical Superintendent (MS) of Civil Hospital Jalalpur Jattan had been made without the matter coming to her notice. Sources claimed she questioned the appointment during the inspection and sought an explanation from local health authorities.

Soon after the visit, Chief Executive Officer (Health) Gujrat Dr Atta-ul-Munim was transferred and posted as Senior Medical Officer (SMO) in Bahawalnagar. Officials familiar with the matter said the transfer order was issued immediately following the inspection.

In another significant development, Dr Shehzad Gul, who had only recently assumed charge as Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Jalalpur Jattan, was transferred and posted as Medical Officer in Attock.

The inspection also resulted in action against the office of Anjuman-e-Behbood-e-Mareezan operating within Civil Hospital Jalalpur Jattan. According to sources, the office was sealed during or after the visit following concerns that it was functioning in a manner inconsistent with its intended welfare role.

Sources alleged that the office had effectively been operating like a business despite the fact that medicines required for patients are supplied free of cost through the government hospital. They claimed the matter was brought to the secretary’s attention during the inspection, prompting immediate action. The Health Department has not officially stated the reasons behind sealing the office.

Meanwhile, sources indicated that further administrative changes could be on the cards, with the transfer of the District Health Officer (DHO) Gujrat also being considered, although no notification had been issued until late Thursday.

No official spokesperson for the Punjab Health Department issued a detailed statement linking the transfers or the sealing of the office to disciplinary proceedings. Efforts to obtain comments from the transferred officials were unsuccessful.

The developments have generated considerable discussion within Gujrat’s health sector, where employees view the latest decisions as part of a wider push for administrative accountability and stricter oversight of public health institutions.

The secretary’s visit is being seen as a clear message that governance, transparency and adherence to departmental procedures will remain central to the provincial government’s healthcare reform agenda.