KARACHI: Acknowledging the challenges in finding 'suitable candidates' to run the seven constituent centers and institutions of the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, officials on Thursday expressed hope that four of the seven institutes in the NIH would be set up. will be notified within Start working under Executive Directors to be appointed for them after few months and an extensive recruitment process.
“We faced a tough time in finding suitable candidates to head the various centers and institutes of the newly established National Institutes of Health, but we expect the recruitment to be completed within a few months and four years out of the seven institutions. Will start working by mid. , We also hope that all the seven institutions will be made operational by the end of this year,” Professor Zulfikar Bhutta, Chairman of the Board of Governors, NIH, told The News.
With an aim to replace the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) with an institution to deal with health emergencies in Pakistan in future, President Arif Alvi promulgated the National Institutes of Health (Reorganization) Ordinance, 2020 a year ago. Health officials formed a 7-member BOG to find health experts to run the NIH's seven institutions and centers, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Pro. Besides Zulfikar Bhutta, the Board of Governors includes Dr. Kashef Ejaz from USA, Prof. Dr. Qasim Aziz, Adeel Butt from Qatar, Dr Saba Jamal from Indus Hospital Karachi, Dr Muhammad Usman Rashid. Dr. Muhammad Asim Baig from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center and Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) Lahore. He is appointed for a three-year term and tasked with recruiting competent and qualified Executive Directors for the NIH.
Pro. Bhutta claimed that the Board of Governors, whose members are serving voluntarily and taking time off from their busy schedules, have met 26 times so far, including two one-on-one meetings and to complete the reorganization of the NIH. Working day and night, what used to be a major health institution of Pakistan in the past but got destroyed due to inefficiency, incompetence and politics in the last 20-25 years. “We have searched the whole world for experts of Pakistan origin to come and serve in these institutes and centres, but due to many reasons, we have faced difficulties.
The person finalized as the CFO refused to join at the last minute, while a woman director for the lab division also declined the offer,” he said and added that they are looking to recruit young and dynamic experts. were trying to.
He said they were trying to rebuild the NIH from scratch as it is supposed to produce vaccines and biological products for Pakistan, generate local research and data, and conduct research on communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). ) works for prevention. do many other things. “But I want to assure that by the end of the year there will be five centers and two institutes in phases. The Institute of Nutrition and Health is what we are trying to fast track”, he said.