Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev is all set to be appointed as the Chairman of Karnataka Health System Commission (KHSC).
Only his name has been sent to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar for consideration. This is being done even before the criteria for the chairman’s post are finalised.
Sources from the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW) confirmed that Dr Prabhu Dev’s name is being processed for the post of chairman.
“The chance of Dr Prabhu Dev being selected is as high as 99 per cent, as only his name was sent to the government for consideration of the post. We should have sent three names, but we have got only Dr Prabhu Dev’s name,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
With only one name sent to the government, the question of who the other two contenders are, does not arise, the official added.
On Saturday, the DHFW issued a government order ratifying the formation of an advisory body to improve health infrastructure in the state called Karnataka Health System Commission.
“The KHSC will function on the lines of Karnataka Knowledge Commission. We are currently working on the eligibility criteria for the chairman’s post, which will be finalised in a day or two,” said DHFW Principal Secretary M Madan Gopal.
When asked about whether Dr Prabhu Dev is slated to take up the post, Gopal said it is too early to say.
“There is no doubt that he is eligible as a doctor, a serving VC and former director of the Jayadeva Institute. It may or may not be him for the post.”
The KSHC will be headed by one chairperson and three non-official members nominated by the state government, along with 11 other members, including the Chief Secretary and Joint Director of Medical Education Directorate as its secretary. VC Dr Prabhu Dev maintains that he does not know anything about the KHSC. “Ask me anything, except about me leaving the university,” he told Express on Monday.