Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has removed Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Mahmood from his additional charge as Federal Health Secretary and assigned the responsibility to Power Secretary Fakhar Alam Irfan.
Mahmood had been handling the health secretary position on an additional-charge basis after Muhammad Aslam Ghori was suspended following the PIMS nursery fire that resulted in the deaths of 14 newborn babies.
The latest administrative change comes amid reported differences between Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Mahmood. With Mahmood no longer holding the additional charge, Fakhar Alam Irfan will now oversee the affairs of the Ministry of National Health Services.
The change takes place as the government continues to examine the management of the health sector and safety arrangements at public healthcare facilities following the tragic PIMS incident.
The nursery fire had raised concerns over safety protocols, emergency preparedness and administrative oversight at the hospital, prompting scrutiny of the systems in place.
Fakhar Alam Irfan, who is currently serving as Power Secretary, will take on the additional responsibility of managing the federal health ministry under the latest notification.
The appointment is expected to bring another administrative shift to the ministry as the government reviews its health-sector management and works on measures aimed at improving safety and oversight at public hospitals.
