Dry spell: Only drought visits Tharparkar, not doctors

There are 72 vacancies for doctors and 70 paramedic seats sanctioned for Tharparkar.


Our Correspondent March 21, 2014
Despite orders, not a single doctor has shown up for duty as drought in Tharparkar continues. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: After the drought hit Tharparkar, the Sindh government issued orders for the appointment 49 doctors and 43 female paramedics on contracts but, despite the emergency, not a single doctor joined till Friday evening, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Another 128 doctors and other staff are going to be appointed in six more districts in the next week. In addition, the provincial government has directed 24 male and female doctors of different hospitals outside Tharparkar to report at Civil Hospital, Mithi, but only 10 of them reported on duty. It was also informed that not a single doctor has joined any health facility in other taluka hospitals outside Mithi despite orders of the provincial government.



The provincial health department has recruited only 49 doctors while the vacancies in Tharparkar for doctors, including specialists, are 72 and around 70 paramedic seats are sanctioned.

"We are keeping top officials informed on the performance of doctors," informed a doctor of Mithi hospital. The doctor said that health issues would not be resolved without the appointment and the proper monitoring of top medical officers.

Sindh health secretary Iqbal Hussain Durrani briefed Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on the health initiatives taken in Tharparkar's different hospitals. During his meeting at CM House on Thursday night, Durrani said all sorts of efforts were being taken. "Mobile camps are also established and doctors and paramedics have been directed to attend patients," said Durrani.

Sources said that all appointments were on a contractual basis and the contracts could be terminated if the doctors applied for a transfer or remained absent from duties. Hence, the doctors and other staff appointed in Tharparkar, Sanghar, Ghotki, Khairpur, Badin and Thatta will have to obey orders, they added.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has strictly directed heads of different programmes, including Extended Programme on Immunisation, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health programme, National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care, and Lady Health Workers to provide health services to these areas. These programmes are being implemented with the financial assistance of the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2014.

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