SHEIKHUPURA, Nov 1: There is an acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in the district’s 138 government hospitals, dispensaries and basic health units. Only 454 doctors and paramedical staffers are currently working out of the sanctioned posts of 1,468, according to Executive District Officer (Health) Dr Zafar Iqbal Khokhar who briefed District Nazim Sahibzada Mian Jalil Ahmad Sharaqpuri here on the health projects.

Prominent among others were District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Azhar Hayat and nazim’s media coordinator Mian Ghulam Rasool Shahzad.

The EDO said there were only 21 specialist doctors, 12 senior medical officers, 56 medical officers, five women medical officers and 2,643 paramedical staffers in the government health facilities. The department, however, was performing well despite having meagre resources as it had taken steps to eradicate polio and TB.

Speaking on the occasion, District Nazim Sahibzada Mian Jalil Ahmad Sharaqpuri stressed that doctors must devote themselves wholeheartedly to the service of the ailing humanity.

He said the incumbent district government was making all-out efforts to hire doctors and paramedical staff in urban and rural area hospitals. It would also provide medicines in quantity to medical institutions, ambulances, besides equipment to provide better health facilities to people.