The Young Doctors Association (YDA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has alleged widespread corruption in the provincial health department, claiming that evidence has already been submitted to the Chief Minister. The association announced it will launch a “Save Health Movement” to protect the province’s healthcare system.
Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, YDA Chairman Dr Asfandyar Bettani, accompanied by fellow doctors, said evidence of corruption had also been presented to the provincial Health Minister and Health Secretary. However, despite the passage of 40 days, no action had been taken. Instead, he alleged that the Health Minister halted proceedings against those involved, exposing the government’s true stance on corruption.
Dr Bettani urged the Chief Minister to honour his commitment by revealing the individuals responsible for corruption in the health department. He warned that if no action is taken, the YDA will hold a convention at the Peshawar Press Club and Nishtar Hall, where it will publicly present evidence of corruption and formally launch the Save Health Movement.
Referring to alleged irregularities at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Dr Bettani said the YDA had previously held a press conference with documentary evidence, after which the Chief Minister announced an inquiry through social media. He said the association fully cooperated with the inquiry committee, but its report has yet to be made public.
He also claimed that evidence regarding the recent recruitment of medical officers on fixed salaries had been submitted, but no practical action followed.
Dr Bettani said salaries for other government cadres had been increased without protest in light of inflation, while thousands of doctors who staged demonstrations outside the Health Secretariat were ignored. He said the government had promised a 40 percent salary increase for doctors, but no such raise was included in the provincial budget.
He criticised the government’s spending priorities, alleging that Rs500 million had been allocated for Wi-Fi services and funds had been reserved for increasing bureaucrats’ salaries, while no funds were allocated for house officers, trainee medical officers and other doctors working around the clock in public hospitals.
The YDA chairman said more than 6,000 doctor vacancies remain unfilled across the province and demanded that all appointments be made through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission to eliminate corruption in recruitment.
Commenting on the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) system and the Sehat Card programme, Dr Bettani alleged that serious corruption was taking place in MTI hospitals. He claimed no hospital had undergone an independent third-party audit and alleged that appointments of chairpersons, managing directors and hospital directors were made through political influence rather than merit.
He further alleged that several substandard companies were registered under the Sehat Card programme. Dr Bettani said that when Chief Minister Sohail Afridi assumed office, he announced plans to establish 5,000 new hospital beds, a move welcomed by the YDA. However, he claimed the promises remained confined to social media, noting that only Rs270 million had been allocated in the budget for new hospitals, which, according to his calculation, would delay completion until 2040.
Concluding the press conference, Dr Bettani demanded the removal of corrupt officials from the health department, the publication of inquiry reports, recruitment of doctors through the Public Service Commission, and an increase in doctors’ salaries.
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