Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan has been given additional charge as federal health secretary for three months, becoming the seventh person to head the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in 18 months amid continuing administrative turmoil.

A notification issued by the Establishment Division said Dr Fakhre Alam, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service presently serving as Secretary Power Division, would hold the additional charge with immediate effect, until the appointment of a regular incumbent or for three months, whichever came earlier.

The appointment replaces Capt (retd) Muhammad Mahmood, who had been given look-after charge of the health ministry only days earlier following the suspension of secretary health Aslam Ghauri in the aftermath of PIMS neonatal nursery fire. However, Mahmood's removal within days and the appointment of Dr Fakhre Alam has again underlined the uncertainty surrounding the country's principal federal health ministry at a time when it is required to deal with institutional failures, regulatory challenges and major national health programmes.

Dr Fakhre Alam had previously served as health secretary and chief secretary Sindh. Officials familiar with his work describe him as a quiet, professional and principled administrator with a reputation for taking decisions without unnecessary publicity. He is the seventh senior officer to head the health ministry in around 18 months. The frequent changes have affected continuity in policymaking and weakened institutional memory in a ministry already facing a shortage of permanent leadership at several key organisations.