MUZAFFARABAD, July 22: The AJK chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association has called upon the government to appoint a whole time secretary health to ensure proper top level supervision in the second largest department of the state. “We don’t talk of any particular person, but the fact is that the appointment of a full time secretary has become necessary for the progress of the health department,” said PMA AJK chapter president Dr Waqar Haider.

He praised the sitting secretary health Maj-Gen Abdul Qadir Usmani as a “thorough gentleman” but said it was not possible for any secretary from the army to spare full time for the health department mainly due to his other engagements in the GHQ.

He said the Northern Areas did have a secretary health from army, but they replaced him with a civilian officer more than eight years ago.—Staff Correspondent