PESHAWAR: The Young Doctors Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (YDA) on Tuesday accused the administration of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) of turning a premier medical institution into a “hub of corruption and maladministration.”
Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, YDA provincial president Dr Asfandyar Bhittani and spokesperson Dr Hafeez Orakzai, along with other young doctors, produced what they claimed were documentary proofs of irregular recruitments, manipulation of hiring criteria, favouritism, misuse of public funds, and violations of the Health Act.
The allegations came with a direct appeal to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who, according to the YDA leadership, had earlier invited citizens and stakeholders to present evidence wherever corruption exists in government institutions.
“Chief Minister Sohail Afridi himself said that if corruption exists in any department, bring forward evidence and action will be taken. Today we have come with evidence exposing corruption in the Health Department and particularly in HMC. Now the question is whether action will actually be taken,” Dr Bhittani told reporters.
The YDA leaders alleged that HMC, once considered a flagship public healthcare institution and a symbol of modern healthcare delivery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is now facing institutional collapse due to politically backed appointments, administrative interference, and large-scale financial mismanagement.
During the press conference, the association displayed documents before journalists and alleged that several important appointments were made in clear violation of merit and institutional rules.
Dr Orakzai alleged that the position of director finance was awarded to a person who did not fulfil the original eligibility criteria and whose professional background was related to internal audit rather than financial administration.
According to the YDA, the eligibility criteria for the post was allegedly changed after interviews had already taken place and another candidate had reportedly been finalised for appointment.
The association alleged that the appointed official was granted a monthly salary of Rs800,000, nearly double the salary structure offered for similar positions in comparable institutions, along with a government vehicle and 220 litres of monthly fuel allocation.
In another claim, YDA office-bearers alleged that the same official had previously been removed from Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex in July 2022 over corruption-related allegations. They alleged that an anti-corruption report issued in 2024 had declared the appointment illegal.The association objected to the appointment process for the chief internal auditor position.
