KARACHI, July 19: Special permission will be sought from the chief minister for fresh appointments against the posts of doctors and relevant health care staffers lying vacant at government hospitals and health care units in remote parts of the province.

This was disclosed by Sindh Health Adviser Faisal Malik Gabol while chairing a meeting of health department officials at his office on Monday.

He said that measures would also be adopted to ensure that doctors and professionals associated with health department, holding domiciles of the interior and remote parts of the province, are assigned responsibilities at the very areas.

He said that this would largely meet the shortage of health care providers in remote areas of Sindh. Faisal Malik asked the officials concerned to submit him an assessment report regarding the impact of Rs631.875 million women health project, which was initiated for procurement of necessary gadgets and equipment for government maternity homes and gynae- obstetric wards of hospitals in public sector.

The adviser said that he was committed to the cause of public welfare and would ensure that no pilferage was made in the projects meant for the masses and particularly the ignored segments of society.

He said that it was under the very motive that he wanted to acquire first-hand information as how the women health project was benefiting the health of an ordinary woman.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure free distribution of medicines among the needy patients so that the medicines must not reach open market. The officials were also directed that packing of government- owned drugs be necessarily made in green colour with warning printed both in Urdu and Sindhi that these medicines were not meant to be sold.

He also asked the officials concerned to rename the I.I Depot as Medical Store Depot of Sindh Government and said the designation of officer in charge of the I.I. Depot be changed into director of Medical Store Depot.

Reminding that provision of quality health projects was among the top priorities of the government, he said negligence would not be tolerated at any cost in this regard and all government officials would be accountable for their performance.

During the meeting, he asked the officials concerned to compile a report regarding performance of trainee doctors and paramedics. He called upon the health officials to constantly review the equipment at various health care units and see as how the facility was performing. - APP