Senior cardiac surgeon at LRH quits job after dean resigns

PESHAWAR: Following the sudden resignation of Dean of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) Dr Junaid Sarfaraz, another senior cardiac surgeon decided to quit his job in the same hospital, leaving only one surgeon to handle the influx of patients.

Cardiac Surgeon Dr Faiq resigned from his job on Friday, leaving the only other cardiac surgeon, Dr Yasir Naseem, to handle the patients in the largest public sector hospital in the province.

Both the doctors quit their jobs after Dr Nausherwan Burki, the architect of so-called health reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, took charge of the hospital as chairman Board of Governors (BoG) and Policy Board.The cardiac surgery department in LRH was already in crisis, as other cardiac surgeons had quit their jobs and only Dr Faiq and Dr Yasir had remained there to treat the patients.

The department was closed for more than two years after head of the department, Dr Riaz Anwar, and his team were accused of high mortality rates there.Dr Burki then hired some cardiac surgeons and they started cardiac procedures.

However, when Dr Burki was removed from his position as chairman BoG by the caretaker government, many other doctors including cardiac and paediatric cardiac surgeons chose to leave.

The paediatric cardiac surgery department had already been closed following the resignation of the surgeons. Most of them went abroad and got well paid jobs there. It was astonishing to note that cardiac surgeon Dr Faiq quit his job when the all-powerful Dr Burki was back in the hospital.

“Respected all seniors, colleagues, as we always begin to end, so was my case, today was my last day of service as AP (assistant professor) in cardiac surgery at the prestigious Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. My journey at LRH spanned short of two years, but this journey gave me strong interpersonal, and managerial skills alongside clinical walk that would always stand in my career. LRH introduced me to working in a more diverse complex and dynamic environment, made friends, got supported and had memories. Wishing and praying for the betterment of everyone and everything, here I am taking an off,” Dr Faiq stated in his farewell note.

Dr Faiq avoided discussing what reasons prompted him to resign but some sources said that he was not satisfied with the hospital administration and their lack of support and coordination had frustrated him to leave his job.

Meanwhile, Dean LRH Dr Junaid Sarfaraz also resigned from his position and left the institution.It was Dr Burki who had selected Dr Junaid Sarfaraz and appointed him as Dean LRH. Both were happy with each other as Dr Junaid Sarfaraz wholeheartedly followed the vision of Dr Burki.

The faculty members in LRH were though not happy with Dr Sarfaraz as LRH had strict rules for promotions of the doctors as compared to other medical teaching institutions (MTIs).The faculty members later realised his compulsions, though he was supportive to them.

Many senior doctors were denied their right of promotion, prompting them to challenge it in court. Presently, dozens of doctors filed cases against the LRH administration. There were reports that Dr Burki had forced him to resign.

However, when reached, Dr Junaid Sarfaraz said, “No, he didn’t force me to resign.”Some of the officials in LRH told News that a few “highly paid conspirators” holding important positions had misled the decision makers about Dr Junaid Sarfaraz.

The faculty members were surprised when they received the information regarding the resignation of Dr Junaid Sarfaraz.“I had submitted my resignation to the BoG on the 30th of June 2024 requesting an exemption from the three months’ notice. The Board very kindly accepted my resignation today. Tomorrow will be my last day in the office. I thank each and everyone of you for your kind support and assistance during my brief stay here. Serving you as your dean has been my life’s privilege and I tried my level best to assist you in every way possible within the confines of the rules and regulations. You allowed me to push you and this institution you are with the rest of the staff, the institute- to reach even higher levels of excellence,” Dr Junaid Sarfaraz explained in his farewell message.

The LRH faculty members forgot all their past differences with the former Dean, Dr Junaid and the majority of them hosted a farewell party in his honour. A number of doctors in LRH had recently taken premature retirement and quit their jobs including general surgeons, Dr Qayyum and Prof Dr Nadeem.Before them, another general surgeon, Dr Nadeem Bukhari had gotten premature retirement and left the hospital, apparently due to lack of service structure, incentives and frustration.