DUHS Convocation: ‘Sindh to raise salaries of medical officers’

1,300 graduating students skeptical about decision.

KARACHI:

“Salaries of young doctors and medical officers will be raised to [match] the highest pay scale in the country,” announced Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan at the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) second convocation on Sunday.

The committee set up by the province’s chief minister has been deliberating over the matter which has resulted in the boycott of out-patient departments (OPDs) and several protests at public hospitals. Not disclosing the increased amount, the governor said the decision was taken after the president gave the green signal to raise salaries in the upcoming financial year.

The governor, who is the DUHS chancellor as well as a DUHS graduate, also announced Rs100 million for the Dow Endowment Fund.

“Very soon, in the financial year 2011-2012, we will give a historic raise in stipends for house officers and postgraduates to match with other provinces,” said Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmed as he addressed the convocation. “I am also proposing a raise for assistant professors and professors.” A former ‘Dowite’, Dr Ahmed said that doctors receive the highest salaries worldwide, but “it was unfortunate to see that the same respect and financial remuneration was not awarded to them in Pakistan”.

The university’s vice chancellor, Professor Masood Hameed Khan, announced the intended raise and voiced his support for the decision. Prof Masood Khan is also part of the committee set up by the chief minister, which is headed by Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah.

However, the loud cheer or thundering clap expected from the crowd after this announcement was missing. Most of the graduates were busy discussing other plans or taking pictures of their momentous day.

Some students did not seem too impressed. “I have a serious issue with the mushrooming of medical colleges. Also eight out of 10 medical students are women, of which only three end up practising,” said Syed Imran Ali, who received his master’s degree. “This takes away the chance of other deserving candidates who can contribute to the profession rather than girls who get married right after their MBBS.”

Meanwhile, Afsheen Javed of the Sindh Medical College argued, “I don’t think this holds true anymore since most girls are career-oriented and take their profession very seriously.”

Over 1,300 graduates associated with various disciplines, colleges and institutes received their degrees at a much disorganised event. Students from different colleges and institutes, including Dow Medical College, SMC, Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Institute of Medical Technology and Physical Medical Rehabilitation, Institute of Health Management, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Technology and Institute of Nursing received diplomas in medical jurisprudence and child health.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2011.