PMA warns of protest against plight of hospitals

MULTAN: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) president Prof Dr Masoodur Rauf Haraj Thursday warned that a protest drive would be launched against worsening situation at hospitals.

Addressing a press conference, the PMA president said the health sector in the province is facing shortage of financial resources.

He said severe funds shortage has affected all sections of hospitals in terms of payment of salaries for doctors and other staff and smooth running of different equipment.

Reportedly, more than 50 percent vacancies of teaching faculty are lying vacant since long

and more than 39

doctors of Nishtar Hospital Multan are demanding salaries for the last six months. The PMA president said patients are holding doctors responsible for lack of facilities at hospitals.

He said public sector hospitals were facing acute shortage of funds and resources in view of population influx. He said the Nishtar Medical Health University had written a letter to the Punjab Secretary Health when the PMA urged the vice chancellor for the salaries of doctors.

He said he demanded Rs 40.5 million budget for the salaries of 77 postgraduate doctors.

The NMHU could compensate 38 postgraduate doctors from own resources and 39 doctors were still waiting for their salaries, he said. He said only the NMHU is facing critical problems but the inadequate teaching faculty is not only creating problems for patients but also medical students.

He said the PMA has been demanding provision of teaching faculty for the last one year, saying eighteen posts of professors, 14 of associate professors and 28 of assistant professors and other teaching and administrative posts are vacant and the government was silent on the issue.

He said all vacant seats are sanctioned for Nishtar Medical College, saying that the government has filled vacant posts in Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and other medical colleges except Multan Nishtar Hospital.

He urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Health Minister, Health Secretary and Syndicate members to do the needful. Prof Haraj said Multan Nishtar Institute of Dentistry was without a permanent principal for many years. He said operation theaters and other costly machinery are dysfunctional at the NID. He said the PMA is going to approach elected representatives and legislators in this regard. PMA office bearers Dr Rana Khawar, Dr Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Dr Imran Rafiq, Dr Zulqarnain Hider, Dr Waqar Niyiazi, Dr Imran Mizari, Dr Qamar Abbass, Dr Wasim Abbas and Dr Tahir Bandesha also attended the press conference.