QUETTA, Dec 5: The Balochistan Medical Association has formed a 10-member committee to run the affairs of the association and to launch a struggle to achieve the rights of the doctors in the province.

Speaking at press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Luqman Hakim, Chairman of the Committee said that the doctors were facing numerous problems owing to government’s discriminatory policy.

He said that the doctors, who raised a voice against unsatisfactory situation in the hospitals, were victimized and in this connection some reports were forcibly taken from the district governments against the doctors which is a commendable act.

He said that no one could deny the fact that hospitals in provincial capital lack facilities due to poor performance of the health department.

Dr. Luqman asserted that gross irregularities were committed in the health department as merit was violated in order to accommodate the juniors on the posts in the hospitals over the senior doctors.

He demanded to upgrade the postgraduate medical institution, Quetta, as Balochistan postgraduate institution and teaching staff should be appointed besides the seats should be distributed on district quota merit basis.

He demanded of the government to ensure functioning of private hospitals within the parameter of law in order to provide full time jobs to the staff besides the hospital regulatory authority and laboratory regulatory should be made effective.

The Chairman of the committee asked the government to close the unlicensed medical stores so that the buying and selling of the medicine in shops should be according to code of procedure.

He stressed the need for continuation of the promotion process of the doctors and promotions should be made effective from the ‘due dates’ instead of ‘with immediate effect’.

Dr. Luqman claimed that the committee was formed to bring the doctors on one platform to get the association rid of the mafia which was responsible for dividing the doctors in different groups to protect their personal interests at the cost honest doctors.