Dr. Faisal Sultan: Did PM opt a wrong person for health? Shafaqna Analysis

by Tauqeer Abbas
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Shafaqna Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday appointed Dr Faisal Sultan as the new Special Adviser to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination with immediate effect.

He has been serving as the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Covid-19, and is also the CEO of Shaukat Khanum Memorial and Cancer Hospital.Which has surprised many that whether this appointment was made on any merit or it was just a matter of choice as he was working with PM’s own run hospital Shaukat Khanum memorial cancer hospital.

It is also worth mentioning that ex-advisor on health Zafar Mirza resigned because of dual nationality. But question is that why a dual national cannot hold a key post in Pakistan? The answer is very simple that is conflict of interests. Now after his resignation that issue of conflict of interest would continue to haunt health ministry as Mr. Faisal Sultan has the same problem.

Dr. Faisal Sultan,  is occupying the position of Chief Executive Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is an honourary Chairman of the same trust. Dr. Sultan has been the focal person on Covid-19 to the Prime Minister and now has been appointed as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Matters.

The issue here should be self-evident. Chances of a misuse of authority, abuse of power and corruption are clearly there. Someone who is in charge of a private healthcare facility has been tasked with a public office. Let’s suppose: if there comes a question of public spending on cancer treatment or setting up of an equally if not a better facility, how would Dr. Sultan ensure that the interests of one of his employers are not undermined while benefiting the others?

It doesn’t stop here. While making public policy on procurement of pharmaceutical products, machinery, supplies, consumables or medical equipment one can easily enter into a contract with the supplier to provide the same to one’s employer at a cheaper rate in exchange for, say, granting a contract regarding public procurement.Such conflicts of interest are well within the realm of possibility.

It is better for both Prime Minister and Dr Faisal Sultan to resign from his previous position and leave SKMH behind and serve the country. If he continues both the job it would simply result in the poor health structure and would add into the miseries of health system.

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