ISLAMABAD: Key institutions under the National Health Ministry continue to face leadership instability following the removal of the secretary of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC)—marking the third change in the position within just four months, ARY News reported.
According to sources, Dr. Gill Sanga, a Grade-19 officer who was serving as the temporary secretary of the PNMC, has been transferred back to the Ministry of Health and appointed as Director of Emergency.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kashif Hussain has been appointed as the new secretary of the PNMC. He has been given the additional charge of the post for a period of three months.
Dr. Hussain is currently serving as a director under Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal.
Sources noted that frequent leadership reshuffles have left several bodies under the health ministry without permanent office bearers.
Earlier, the federal government imposed a temporary six-month ban on the establishment of new nursing and midwifery institutions, sources said.
The Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) has issued formal notifications regarding the ban to both federal and provincial governments.
According to sources, the temporary restriction has been put in place to allow the council to clear a backlog of pending cases.
During this six-month period, the PNMC will not accept or process any new inspection applications for prospective institutions.
However, the council will continue processing applications that have already been submitted. Sources added that new applications will only be entertained after receiving approval from the competent authority following the completion of the six-month period.