Hyderabad, September 30: Principal secretary for health PV Ramesh has been appointed special officer for Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here today. Ramesh, who took charge this evening from the incumbent director Dr D Prasada Rao, will hold the additional charge for a period of three months or until further orders are issued. However, sources said that the appointment is an interim arrangement and a professional doctor is likely to be appointed to the coveted post in a month or two.
Though a three-member panel headed by medical education minister P Sudarshan Reddy was constituted to appoint the new director for NIMS, the state government has opted to appoint a special officer to run the prestigious hospital.
After the state government invited applications for the post, the committee received more than 15 applications, both from insiders and outsiders. Apparently, the panel reportedly did not arrive at a consensus.
Further, the decision making was difficult as there was a lot of pressure on the state government from various quarters including pharma companies, for appointment of the new director on the basis of caste, region.
Chief minister K Rosaiah was interested in bringing back the past glory of NIMS where occupancy rate has been dropping for various reasons.
Even principa l secretary Ramesh highlighted the point stating that improving the quality of medical services rendered to the poor and the needy will be his top priority apart from enhancing team work between doctors and other staff members.
“It is a responsible job. I will try to do justice to the post and improve the emergency services as well as inpatient services,” Ramesh told .
–Agencies