Health ministry inquiry report recommends review of DRAP promotions

ISLAMABAD – An inquiry report of the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on Tuesday recommended reviewing the promotions done in the Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

A three-member inquiry committee, comprising a joint secretary and two deputy secretaries to investigate the promotions in DRAP, recommended the secretary Ministry of NHS that it may review and disapprove the recommendations made by Departmental Selection Board (DSB) of DRAP wherein three officers were recommended for promotion without meeting eligibility criteria and even in absence of recruitment and promotion rules.

The inquiry report available with The Nation said that the ante-dated promotion granted to officers may be declared illegal having no prudence and lawful cover while the office order dated 07-03-2019 (Annex-LV) issued by the ministry about look after charge may be withdrawn.

The committee also recommended that rules may be framed immediately in pursuance of Section-23 while DRAP Employees Service Regulations 2105 (including all subsequent amendments) may be forwarded to Establishment Division with request to evaluate and authenticate with those (DRAP Employees Service Regulations 2013) concurred by the Establishment Division vide OM No. 4/4/2013-R-III.

The inquiry committee also recommended that regulations may also be made in pursuance of Section 24 with approval of the policy board and duly concurred by the relevant competent forum.

It said that the Chief Executive Officer, DRAP and thirteen directors may be appointed strictly under provisions ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its Judgment dated 09-04-2015.

The inquiry said that forensic investigation may be carried out by any law enforcement agency on the short video clip (00:01:05) received by the complainant while the degree of Syed Sultan Ghani, ex-consultant, DRAP (from 16-12-2019 to 15-06-2020) may be verified from Higher Education Commission as recommended by the Scrutiny Committee vide its minutes of meeting dated 28-10-2019.

It also said that functions of the Policy Board may be accelerated and excelled in pursuance of Section-10(3), Section-11(1)(a)(b) and Section-12 read with Section-30(3) of DRAP Act-2012.

The inquiry concluded that DRAP authorities in violation of Prime Minister’s directions on designing customized courses immediately for DRAP employees while rejecting the proposal of the summary for Prime Minister dated 16-09-2016.

It also concluded that violation of Finance Division (Expenditure Wing)’s letters dated 29-07-2016 and 26-07-2017, wherein, ban was imposed upon creation of new posts except those required for development projects;

FST, Islamabad’s Judgment dated 25-04-2019 in Appeal No. 1646(R)/2018 with MP titled Dr. Noor Muhammad Shah Vs FOP/Secretary, M/o NHSRC etc. described therein that all employees of DRAP are bound to complete customized training for promotion to the higher post.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/23-Jun-2021/health-ministry-inquiry-report-recommends-review-of-drap-promotions