ISLAMABAD: The federal health ministry has cancelled recruitment processes for the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Polyclinic and other institutions after receiving complaints alleging irregularities and lack of transparency in tests conducted by the City Testing Service (CTS), officials said.
The decision has also halted recruitments under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects, affecting a plan to recruit 700 officials in federal health institutions facing serious staff shortages.
Officials at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said the ministry received complaints from candidates and other quarters against CTS, including allegations that money was demanded or received in connection with written tests, besides complaints regarding transparency and other irregularities in the testing process.
They said the allegations had not yet been established through an inquiry, but the volume and nature of complaints prompted institutions, including Drap, to raise concerns with the ministry and seek cancellation of the process rather than proceed with appointments that could later be challenged.
The cancellation was likely to further delay the operationalisation of several PSDP-funded health projects, officials said, as facilities on which billions of rupees had been spent for construction and equipment were still without the staff required to begin or expand services.
The development is also critical for Drap, where recruitment of technical and regulatory staff is considered essential ahead of the World Health Organisation’s assessment for Maturity Level 3, due in October. Officials said the assessment was a make-or-break moment for the regulator and Pakistan’s pharmaceutical oversight system, but warned that achieving the level would be extremely difficult without filling key vacant positions.
Officials said candidates had also sent complaints to the health ministry, Prime Minister’s Office and other government bodies, seeking a probe into the conduct of the tests and the selection of CTS for recruitment examinations.
They said the recruitment process conducted through CTS would not be taken forward until complaints were examined and a transparent, rules-based mechanism was put in place.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said the decision to cancel the process and reconduct the tests was taken after complaints were received, to avoid further controversy and the possibility of the recruitment exercise being challenged in court.
He said fresh tests would be conducted through a government-run testing body, such as the Higher Education Commission, Health Services Academy or another university, to ensure transparency and merit.
The decision is particularly significant for Drap, where the recruitment process has now been cancelled for the third time. The authority is already facing an acute shortage of staff, including assistant directors, deputy directors and drug inspectors.
Drap is estimated to be short of around 135 officials, affecting its capacity to regulate medicines, inspect manufacturers, monitor drug quality and take action against violations in the pharmaceutical sector.
Officials said an earlier recruitment process for Drap had been conducted through the Higher Education Commission. Candidates had been shortlisted and were expected to be called for interviews when that process was also cancelled.
A subsequent attempt to fill vacant posts has now been halted after complaints concerning CTS, leaving the drug regulator without a completed recruitment process despite repeated attempts.
Officials said millions of rupees had already been paid to the Higher Education Commission and the Health Services Academy for earlier recruitment-related services, but the processes did not result in appointments. The latest cancellation means public money has again been spent without resolving the staffing crisis.
The choice of a little-known testing service for a sensitive recruitment exercise involving federal health institutions has also come under question. Officials said the ministry should have ensured due diligence, institutional credibility and a transparent procurement process before assigning recruitment tests to CTS.
Instead, the process has been stopped after hundreds of candidates raised concerns, leaving applicants uncertain and institutions without urgently required staff.
