Health ministry cycles through seventh secretary in 18 months, raising governance concerns

The federal health ministry, headed by Minister Mustafa Kamal, has rotated through seven secretaries in an 18-month span, with Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, now holding the health portfolio while continuing as Power Division secretary. A senior ministry official explained that the minister lacks authority to move officers above BPS-20, as appointments are made by the Cabinet Secretariat and Establishment Division.

Health experts, speaking anonymously, say many units—including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, its polyclinic and several wings—are run by acting heads, a situation they find troubling after the fire that killed 14 newborns. The rapid turnover mirrors a similar pattern among health director-generals, most serving only a few months. Critics warn that acting officials focus on short-term fixes and avoid long-range policies, potentially undermining reforms the minister touts, such as added hospital beds and telemedicine initiatives.