The Sindh government is all set to terminate services of at least 1500 ghost doctors who are not attending their offices since 2011 after giving final notices in the print media, it is learnt.
This was disclosed by Health Secretary Dr Fazaullah Pechuho in its report submitted before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Karachi Registry on Friday, a copy of which is exclusively available with Pakistan Today.
According to report, the health department has also initiated biometric process at regional level of all doctors, staff nurses and paramedic to ensure their proper attendance and to weed out ghost employees who would come under the preview of accountability automatically.
Simultaneously, the Health Department has worked out 1500 doctors found to be ghost since 2011 and has recently sought approval of Sindh chief minister for their terminations after giving them final notice through print media. They are 1213 medical officers (BS-17), women medical officers (BS-17) 139 and senior medical officers (BS-18) 148, it added.
The report further stated the Health Department sent requisition to Sindh Public Service Commission for appointment of 786 doctors BS-18 in Specialist Cadre. SPSC has so far forwarded recommendation of 401 doctors (Specialist Cadre) and 88 doctors on August 18, 2016 and December 4, 2017 respectively to Health Department whereas recommendation for the rest of 297 is yet to be received for which department has requested SPSC to expedite their recommendation.
At least 477 staff nurses BS-16 have also been appointed recently through SPSC and posted at their respective domicile places, while 157 pharmacists BS-17 have also been appointed recently through SPSC and posted at their respective domicile places/major hospitals.
For the appointment of paramedic staff BS 1 to BS 15, the Health Department has directed all the field offices to start recruitment process subject to completion of all codal formalities (appointment of BS-6 to BS-15) are to be made through NTS/IBA Sukkur.
In order to motivate doctors, paramedics, the Health Department has initiated working for promotion that included 141 doctors (male) BS-19 have been promoted to BS-20, 50 doctors (female) BS-19 promoted to BS-20, 2 doctors (cardiologist) BS-19 promoted to BS-20, 15 doctors (gynecologist) BS-18 promoted to BS-19, 32 dental surgeons BS-18 promoted to BS-19, 345 doctors (female) BS-18 promoted to BS-19, 50 dental surgeons BS-17 promoted to BS-18, 173 women medical officers BS-17 promoted to BS-18.
Moreover, the working paper for promotion of senior ENT specialist BS-19 to BS-20 has been placed before the Provincial Selection Board-I under the chair of Sindh chief minister for consideration.
The working paper for promotion of 1069 doctors (male) from BS-18 to BS-19 have been placed before Provincial Selection Board-II under the chair of Sindh chief secretary for consideration. Tender of 9 therapeutic groups have been finalised and lists have been circulated to all the health institutions for facilitation of poor patients and it has been ensured that there should not be any shortage of medicines to be provided to the poor patients free of cost.
The remaining tenders of three therapeutic groups i.e. ophthalmic surgical Items, surgical/disposable items and dental material have also been finalised which will be circulated within a week’s time. In these items, clarification was required from bidders in pursuance of notification issued by Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Government of Pakistan dated March 15, 2017 and the same has been obtained.
The Jamshoro Electro Medical Workshop executive director has been instructed to visit all the tertiary hospitals in first phase and in second phase he should visit to all district headquarter hospitals and submit report regarding availability of equipments, emergency machinery i.e. ventilators, oxygen, incubators, OT facilities, angiography machines, CT scan, MRI, ambulances and their functionality.
Pursuant to the directions of the Health Department, the Jamshoro Electro Medical Workshop executive director recently visited RHC Ibrahim Hyderi and 50-bedded, RH C Murad Memon Goth Karachi and submitted report that almost 95 per cent machinery equipment were in operative condition.
The Health Department takes immediate cognizance of non-availability of medicines, absence of doctors and non-functionality of any machinery equipments as soon as any such report is received from concerned medical superintendent. The facts are submitted for perusal of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
