Doctors concerned at shortage of medical staff in hospitals

The doctors community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has expressed grave concern over shortage of medical staff at different major and teaching hospitals in the province, demanding government to make legislation for induction of qualified jobless doctors on the post of medical officers.
Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club (PPC), Provincial President, Dr Shah Sawar said that most of the teaching hospitals and basic health facilities lacked required medical staff. He said that the government had established new hospitals and medical institutes but did not bother about the deficiency of the doctors at existing medical facilities in the province.
He stressed the need for devising a concrete policy for new doctors. He said that more than 3400 doctors had appeared in the recent test of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission (PSC) out of which 2300 declared successful. He further informed that about 1,216 doctors had cleared verbal test, but only 439 doctors inducted out of the total number of qualified.
Dr Sawar said that more than 777 doctors were not appointed despite qualifying test and interview, saying that most of them appeared thrice in test and interview but had not been inducted yet. He expressed fear that the age factor may deprive them to qualify the criteria in coming years. He demanded of the government to make legislation for induction of the qualified doctors on the post of medical officers.
He urged the government to induct the qualified 777 doctors on medical officers seat in order to remove sense of deprivation and fill the prevailing deficiency in the province. He suggested that the government should devise mechanism to increase doctors' post every year in the province.
PDA provincial president demanded for provision honorary to MCPS trainee doctors and private house job medical officers.
"We want a peaceful solution of the doctors' problems, he said, adding the government should take steps for induction of qualified doctors in different teaching hospitals and periphery units."
He warned that if the government did not meet their demands till May 01, they would hold protest demonstrations which may be intensified to complete strike.