Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department dismissed 30 medical officers from government service after disciplinary proceedings over allegedly fraudulent Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) registrations and irregular appointments.
The department issued individual dismissal notices dated October 9, 2026 under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2011.
According to the notifications, the officers faced allegations relating to appointments made on an extraneous basis or through fraudulent PMDC registrations.
As the competent authority, the provincial chief secretary initially issued show cause notices under Rule 7 of the disciplinary rules, provisionally proposing removal from service.
The accused officers were subsequently allowed to respond to the allegations and to appear at personal hearings.
After examining the evidence, written explanations, and the hearing officers' reports, the competent authority confirmed the major penalty of removal from service under Rule 14(5).
The notifications also direct the recovery of outstanding dues or payments made to dismissed officers.
The action affects medical officers serving at government hospitals and health facilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including those in Peshawar, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Upper Dir and other districts.
Affected facilities include Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals, District Headquarters Hospitals and rural health centres.
The dismissals raised questions about the verification of professional registrations and about recruitment procedures within the provincial healthcare system.
The notifications state that the department removed the officers following disciplinary proceedings. However, they do not establish that every individual was separately convicted of a criminal offence.
