NIH left in limbo as health ministry recalls summary for BoG appointments

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ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Health has recalled a critical summary sent to the Federal Cabinet for the appointment of the Board of Governors (BOG) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad – the move can paralyze the country’s largest healthcare organization when it has to paralyze it.

On the direction of Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, the ministry has withdrawn the list of six names through a high -powered search and nomination committee headed by Planning Minister Ehsan Iqbal. The committee, constituted under the NIH (reorganization) Act 2021, was handed over to the shortlisting bog members after a month -long, wide process under the supervision of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

“Summary for the appointment of bog members has been withdrawn on the instructions of the federal minister,” said Special Secretary Health Secretary Health Secretary Mirza Nasiruddin Mashood Ahmed. Repeated questions sent to his WhatsApp number were also unlawful.

This development has raised concerns among officials of the Ministries of Health and Planning, especially since the NIH has been operating without permanent executive directors and a chief executive officer (CEO) for more than a year. In fact, the last bog period ended on March 16, 2024, which left the institute for more than 14 months without any work board.

Under the NIH (Organization) Act 2021, BOG is responsible for all major policy decisions, including the appointment of permanent executive directors and CEOs of the institute.

According to the NIH Act, the Board of Governors is responsible for monitoring the strategic direction, policies and budget approval of the Institute, as well as the preparation of vaccine and biological products, monitoring activities, research, and the breeding of internal taxes. Officials warned that the delay in the formation of the BOG had already reduced key tasks and could further damage the institution’s role in protecting national health.

The search and nomination committee, headed by Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, had finalized six prominent professionals as members of the BOG after a transparent and consultative process comprising nominations from medical universities and institutions across the country. The important thing is that, before submitting all the names finalized by the committee to the cabinet for formal approval, the country’s intelligence agencies had fully examined and cleared.

Final names include Dr. Faisal Syed Mahmood (Eco, Karachi), Dr. MG Tariq Mehmood Sati (Number, Rawalpindi), Prof. Dr. Aisha Mohi -ud -Din (No), Prof. Dr. Saifia Ahmed/USBB Health/Former DG Heller (Former DG Aid, Aid, DG, Peshawar, Peshawar).

Officials said members of the search and nomination committee were surprised to remember the summary, who were allegedly worried that the committee’s extensive efforts were being considered as neglect. “This is not just a bureaucratic reversal, but is seen as the integrity of the supervision of senior government officials,” said a cabinet division official, “said a cabinet division official, adding that the matter was raised with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the final resolution.

Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharat also expressed surprise at the summary memory and said that he was personally involved in a widely practiced exercise to finalize bog nominations. “This summary reflects the months of diligence and multi -institutions input,” a senior health official quoted. Now remembering it creates unnecessary disruption. ” Ministry of Health officials have claimed that some elements within NIH Islamabad, unhappy with the final nominations, may affect the Minister of Health to recite the summary in an attempt to resolve the bog with alternative names. However, under the NIH Act 2021, the search and nomination process is a prerequisite, and the Federal Minister cannot unilaterally approve the names for the board membership.