Taking oath: Health dept vows to serve Sindh

Nine absentee doctors sacked for being absent from duties

KARACHI: The top management of the Sindh government's health department pledged to serve the people of Sindh without any discrimination. The provincial health minister administered the oath.

In the meeting, top officials, including heads of major hospitals, district health officers and heads of various health projects, reviewed the performance of the health department at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.



"We all have taken an oath to serve humanity," said the health minister, Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar. He said that he himself took the oath to serve his department before asking other officials.

He said that the officials have also discussed shortcomings of the department. He added that he planned to transfer powers from the secretariat to the lower level.

Speaking to the media, the minister said that there is no shortage of funds in his ministry. "But there are administrative issues," he admitted, saying that the quality of several health facilities can be improved.

It was the first time that such a meeting on the performance of health facilities was conducted. The officials raised several issues and gave suggestions on how to improve hospitals. Replying to a question on the issue of a torch that was used during a surgery at Makli hospital, he said that he had already instructed the hospital administration to discontinue such practices.

The minister said that 400 medical officers who remained absent from their duties have been suspended, adding that negligence will not be tolerated in the health sector.

Doctors sacked

At least nine doctors, who have been absent from their duties for the last 15 years, have been sacked, while 15 more such absentees have been given final warnings to resume their duties immediately.

On the orders of the health minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, nine medical officers of BPS-17 who were posted to different hospitals in the province have been removed. According to health department officials, all the dismissed officers had been issued repeated warnings to resume duties and contact the health department but they never bothered to do so.

These dismissed officers include Dr Sofia, Dr Maria Baloch, Dr Seeta, Dr Jay Kamari, Dr Masooma, Dr Noureen, Dr Noureen Hanif, Dr Farheen and Dr Muhammad Baig.

The minister has also issued final notices to 15 more doctors, warning them to communicate with the health department officials within 15 days or risk dismissal.

The health department officials told The Express Tribune that all these medical officers reside outside Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2015.