800 Doctors’ posts in Sindh government remain vacant

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI- About 800 general cadre doctors had been retired from their posts in last one year and health department Sindh seemed reluctant to fill the vacant posts, it was learnt recently.  A senior official of health department Sindh on condition of anonymity said; About 800 general cadre doctors had been retired from their posts in one year. He said about 600 doctors of grade-18 and 200 doctors of grade-19 had been retired from their posts in last one year.  He said about 200 more general cadre officers of grade-18 are going to retire upcoming months. He said due to the delay in promotions a significant of numbers posts of doctors is lying vacant in various healthcare institutions.

Sources said; no departmental promotion committee (DPC) meeting was held from last one year to promote general cadre doctors of grade-17 in next grades. He, however, said meeting for promotions of grade-18 doctors could not take place from last two years. He said authorities called DPC meeting twice for promotion of doctors but later postponed due unknown reasons.         

Sources said delay in promotions, shortage of staff and non-appointment of doctors on vacant posts has badly affected the performance health department and also healthcare institutions in Sindh province. 

Secretary Health Sindh Iftikhar Shalwani, when contacted, said Departmental Promotion Committee meeting would be held soon for promotions of doctors. He said all the vacant posts of officers would be filled on merit in health department.